MARTIN PATERSON believes he’s capable of getting 20-plus goals for Town in the Championship and today promised fans: “I’ll do my utmost to prove it.”

The 26-year-old feels boss Mark Robins and the John Smith’s Stadium faithful can benefit from the prime years of his career given freedom from injuries, regular selection and licence to thrive as a central striker.

Stoke-based Paterson, who was out of contract at Burnley and signed a two-year Town deal, met his new colleagues in pre-season for the first time today.

And the Northern Ireland colleague of Town’s Oli Norwood, who bagged 19 goals to help Burnley win promotion to the Premier League in 2009, said: “Huddersfield Town are a big club who can compete at this level and give me the platform to show I’m a Championship goalscorer.

“I’m an out-and-out centre forward and I believe I’m capable of getting more than 20 goals, but you can talk about it all day long – I’m a big believer in getting out there and proving it.

“I feel the prime of my career will be the upcoming four or five years and this coming season is massive for me.

“It’s important for me to be involved with Northern Ireland, so I need to make sure my club form is bang on – that’s a big incentive for me – and I want to make the Town fans happy with my efforts for the team.

“I want to show them how hard I work and I also want to bring them quality forward play and goals, and I want to get as many as possible.”

Paterson – who is married with three sons aged five, three and two – says Robins speaks the same sort of football language to himself, a big reason why he signed because he’d ultimately like to play in the Premier League again.

More – Page 42.