Hardie continues to climb the charts

PLYMOUTH Argyle striker Ryan Hardie is already halfway towards his 20-goal target for this season with five more months still to play during the 2022/23 campaign.

The 25-year-old has netted 10 times in all competitions this term - eight in League One and two in the Papa Johns Trophy.

Four of his goals have come from the penalty spot, including in Argyle’s last outing, the 2-2 draw away to Burton Albion on November 19.

Hardie leads Argyle’s scoring chart, two clear of Niall Ennis, while Morgan Whittaker is on seven and the pair of Finn Azaz and Sam Cosgrove are on six apiece.

The former Rangers forward finished last term as Argyle’s top scorer with a total of 19 goals, seven ahead of Luke Jephcott, who is now on loan to League Two side Swindon Town.

Hardie has netted 42 times in a total of 89 starts and 43 substitute appearances since joining the Pilgrims from Blackpool, initially on loan in January 2020 before later completing a permanent move.

That puts Hardie joint 38th in the club’s all-time list of top marksmen, alongside Fred Binney, Frank Richardson, Derek Rickard and Bill Strauss.

Already this season he has overtaken the likes of Billy Rafferty (40), Steve Castle (39), Kevin Nugent (37), Marino Keith and Adrian Littlejohn (both 32).

Hardie needs three more goals to break into the Argyle top 30, which would put him alongside David Kemp and Ian Stonebridge among others.

Argyle’s all-time top goalscorer is Sammy Black with 182 goals, followed by Wilf Carter on 148, Tommy Tynan on 144 and Jack Leslie, the subject of a statue unveiling outside Home Park last month, on 137.

The only other players to have reached three figures for the Pilgrims are Maurice Tadman on 112 and Jack Vidler on 103.