James Constable, now third on Oxford United’s all-time list of scorers, believes he and strike partner Tom Craddock can both still get to 20 goals this season.

The pair have 23 between them so far, but injury and suspension means they have only started together twice since New Year’s Day.

They were reunited in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Plymouth, where Constable scored the winner to take his tally for the campaign to 11, one behind Craddock.

The goal was his 91st for the club, making him United’s third most prolific marksman.

The form of the front two could be the key if United are going to stage a dramatic climb up the table in the final weeks of the season.

With 14 games left, Constable, known as ‘Beano’ to the fans, thinks the squad could have two players breaking the 20-goal barrier by the end of April.

He said: “We have still got enough games to be able to do that, especially with the number of chances we create. “We probably make more than any other team in the league.

“I’m sure if we keep doing that, we’ll put them away.”

The former Shrewsbury striker is now clear of John Aldridge and Peter Foley in United’s all-time list, the latter tweeting: “well done Beano, one more than me, now get that 100 #topstrikers.”

If he does hit 20 goals this season it would bring up a century for the U’s and put him joint second in the list, alongside Tony Jones.

More importantly, the goal at Home Park ended the side’s six-game wait for a victory.

United’s hopes of reaching the npower League Two play-offs had been damaged by a run of four defeats in five winless games and they sit firmly in mid-table with just under a third of the season left.

Constable knows there is little margin for error if they are going to reel in the sides above, but he is confident Saturday’s win can be the catalyst to repeat a strong run over the Christmas period.

“We said before the (Plymouth) game, it’s now or never,” he said.

“We need to get another run going and we know we’ve got the players to do it.

“There’s no change from the lads who were there when we went ten unbeaten.

“There are still plenty of games.

“They will come thick and fast, but the fact we’ve got that win means we can look forward to the next one.”

UNITED'S ALL-TIME TOP MARKSMEN

Graham Atkinson 398 games, 107 goals; Tony Jones 356, 100; James Constable 218, 91; John Aldridge 141, 90; Peter Foley 321, 90.