Promotion is my main goal – says striker

COVENTRY City striker Marc McNulty has set his goal tally for the season but admits he’d settle for just a handful if it meant the club got promoted.

The nippy Sky Blues front man wants to get to a minimum of double figures – a feat he achieved on loan in League Two with Portsmouth two season’s ago – but insists, unselfishly, that his priority is seeing the team get back to League One at the first attempt.

The summer recruit has hit three goals in pre-season so far since signing for Mark Robins from Sheffield United, all from the penalty spot, making him the stand-out choice as the designated spot-kick taker ahead of the new campaign.

Asked if he has a goal target for the new season, the 24-year-old said: “Yes, of course. Selfishly, I want to get to double figures but if you offered me five goals now and we got promoted at the end of the season I’d bite your hand off. I’m here for one thing, and that’s to help this club get back up.”

And although he wants to be doing the business himself, McNulty believes the more striking options the team has this season the better.

The manager has drafted in McNulty and Max Biamou so far to compete with Stuart Beavon and Kwame Thomas but, with George Thomas looking increasingly likely to leave, Robins is almost certainly seeking to add an experienced and proven goal scorer before the end of the transfer window.

McNulty, who has been deployed with both Beavon and Biamou on separate occasions, welcomes competition.

“To be a successful team you need options,” he said.

“Sometimes I might find myself out of the team but I am just going to have to make sure I keep myself in it.”

Biamou started with McNulty against MK Dons on Friday night when City beat the League One side 2-0, courtesy of two goals from the latter from the penalty spot.

Asked if he feels he’s developing a good understanding with the Frenchman, he said: “Yes, and with Stuart Beavon as well.

“Bevs and Max are different players. Bevs like the ball to his feet. Max is the opposite. He likes to run in behind and he’s more physical.”