Thompson: I aim to hit goal trail again

Mar 23 2008 by Chris Wathan, Wales On Sunday

STEVE THOMPSON admits his lack of goals has cast a cloud over his Cardiff career – but he hopes it doesn’t overshadow his overall contribution as he fights for a future with the club, writes CHRIS WATHAN.

The Scottish striker has netted just 15 times in two-and-a-half years since a £250,000 move from Rangers but has not given up hope of giving boss Dave Jones a striking dilemma by the end of the season.

“Not scoring goals has been the monkey on my back ever since I came to Cardiff,” said the 29-year-old, who has been given his chance to impress during Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s three-game ban for his sending off against Colchester.

“I went long spells without scoring. I can’t reverse that but it’s a cloud that hangs over me. But sometimes people only focus on the fact I might not be scoring goals, rather than focus on other things I might be doing.”

Thompson has had to play second fiddle for much of the campaign, his own suspension in December giving Jones the chance to utilise a Paul Parry/Hasselbaink partnership that heralded an upturn in form for the side.

But Thompson now has the perfect chance to make a late bid for a Wembley semi-final place with two games remaining before the April 6 clash with Barnsley.

“The season has been up and down for me,” he admitted. “I missed three months at the start with injury. I fought hard to get back but then I was out of the team because of the sending off at Bristol City. I’ve been getting snippets here and there but Paul and Jimmy clicked and did very well.

“Now it will be just nice to try and get a run of games and give the manager something to think about.”

But Thompson added he knows he has his work cut out to alter Jones’ current preferred line-up, adding: “I’m not thinking about the semi-final. I can only concentrate on the next game.

“The manager has probably got his team for Wembley in his mind already but it would be nice to try and give him something to think about.”

Thompson has been continuously linked with a move away from South Wales since being placed on the transfer list last summer.

But he added: “I’ve got another year left here and my wife and I are very happy in the area.

“We’ve already got one Welsh child and my wife is about to give birth to a second.

“You hear about speculation but you’ve got to be strong enough to let it go into one ear and out of the other otherwise you bring yourself down if you dwell on the negative stuff.”