IT’S coming up to a year since Kurtis Guthrie last experienced the thrill of scoring a goal.

A penalty to earn Stevenage a point at Port Vale on October 19 made it two in two at the time for the striker at a club who couldn’t buy a win.

But that would prove the last of his 19 goals for the Hertfordshire club, falling out of favour when Graham Westley returned for a fourth time in charge before completing a deadline-day move to Valley Parade at the end of January.

Guthrie has started four times so far this season – more than anyone else in Stuart McCall’s squad – but is yet to break his duck.

The 27-year-old is keen to put that right but insists it is not playing on his mind.

Guthrie said: “Of course it’s a no-brainer (to get off the mark). As a striker, scoring goals is where you get your thrill, your rush and to get my first one for this club will obviously be fantastic.

“But it’s not a case of one and then there’s no more. I’m looking way past just getting the first one.

“I want to get multiple goals. I want to get into double figures.

“I just focus on doing what I can for the team and hopefully I’ll create my own luck and get goals.”

McCall has been in the market for another frontman since James Vaughan’s exit at the start of pre-season.

But the Bantams boss also delivered a public vote of confidence in strike-force Guthrie, Lee Novak and Clayton Donaldson to all break into double figures on the goal front.

For Guthrie, whose own future at the club appeared in doubt before several heart-to-heart discussions with the manager through the summer, that is a challenge he is happy to accept.

“There’s no pressure at all,” he added. “I’d rather be somebody to rise to the occasion.

“I believe that within myself so when you’re hearing your manager say that, the person who’s going to pick the team, it should fill you with confidence.

“It shouldn’t make you feel disheartened at all but believe in your own ability that you’ve got to this point. You’ve just got to continue pushing with that mindset.”

Guthrie's workrate certainly cannot be questioned - only Elliot Watt ran further than the 11.5km he covered in last week's battling draw at Forest Green.

Now he is aiming to open his account against some familiar faces on Saturday – although not that familiar given the many changes at his former club since his exit.

But he has a lot of time for Stevenage's rookie manager Alex Revell, who stepped up to take over from Westley in February to try and bring some calm to the chaos that threatened their EFL survival.

Guthrie often played up front with Revell during his time there and is not surprised to see the 37-year-old make the jump into the hot-seat.

He said: “He has done it at a very good level in his playing career and is someone who has always wanted to pass on what he learned and his experiences. Hence why he’s found himself in management.

“He was very good with me when I first came and we got on very well off the bat. We’re still good friends today.

“He’s got time for everybody and just wants to help improve players. That’s a great quality to have.

“You could see the way he would break things down after he’s trained or on matchdays. He went into doing the under-23s at Stevenage when he decided to hang his boots up.

“Getting your first management job is tough at any team and he stumbled into the role. They gave him a chance and believed in him and it suits him well.

“It’s a good fit and I think that club is the perfect first step for him as a manager.”

Stevenage were eventually spared because of Macclesfield’s financial woes despite winning only three games all season – Guthrie did feature in two of those.

He is pleased to see them turning the corner, providing that does not continue at Valley Parade.

“It was very bleak at one point for them,” he said.

“But those boys who have it now worked tirelessly. There was so much going on in the background that made it so difficult for them to get a fair shot.

“When you keep tinkering and messing so many times it spells disaster.

“But they seem to have found something that works and they’ve got off to a good start.

“I’m glad they’ve stayed, it’s a well-run, family club and I’d like to see them do well. But hopefully after we’ve beaten them.”