Oxford United's Matty Taylor closing in on 20 goals in 2021/22

The striker needs two more goals to reach 20 for the season, a target that has so far eluded him since returning to his home town club.

Taylor, then on loan from Bristol City, was on 17 when the 2019/20 Sky Bet League One campaign was halted with nine games remaining because of coronavirus.

The No 9 penned a three-year deal that summer and came even closer last season, scoring 19 goals as United reached the play-offs for the second successive year.

'He had magic in his boots': Matty Taylor pays tribute to Joey Beauchamp

Taylor has already found the net 18 times in 2021/22, but even with 12 games left he is not overthinking it.

He said: “I would like to have thought I’d get there in the first year, but Covid saw me off.

“Having not done it, it would be a big moment for me.

“I’d like to think I’ll get there, but I don’t want to curse myself.

“I’ll keep getting in the box, keep trying to take the chances.

“Fortunately I’ve got a set of unbelievable lads around me and they create chances every week.

“I’ve just got to stay focused and don’t get complacent.

“If I end on 18 I end on 18, if I end on more then great.”

No United player has scored 20 goals in a season since Kemar Roofe bagged 26 during the 2015/16 Sky Bet League Two promotion campaign.

At that time, Taylor was in prolific form for Bristol Rovers, reaching the milestone in 2014/15 and 2015/16 before getting there again in 2016/17, after joining Bristol City in January.

Taylor is on the brink of another impressive achievement with the U’s.

Two more goals would move the 31-year-old into United’s all-time top ten goalscorers, lifting him above Matt Murphy’s tally of 55.

The Oxford-born forward is currently on 54, putting him equal 11th with teammate James Henry and 1950s marksman Harry Yates.

Taylor’s double in the 4-0 win at Charlton Athletic last Saturday moved him above Henry into sixth place in United’s all-time Football League goalscorers list, with 48.