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Can Lukas Jutkiewicz become Blues’ 20 goal man?

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Lukas Jutkiewicz scored his third goal in four games against Brentford yesterday – his eighth of the season from 20 appearances. With 21 games remaining this season, canĀ  the Juke become the first Blues striker in more than two decades to hit 20 goals in a single season?

Blues haven’t had a 20 goal striker since Steve Claridge netted 25 back in the 1994/95 season under former manager Barry Fry. That season, Blues won promotion back to Division One (now the Championship) and lifted the Auto Windscreens Shield at Wembley.

Mikael Forssell came close, he scored 19 in 2003/04, a season which saw Blues in the Premier League.

Lukas Jutkiewicz certainly has the ability to do it but will rely heavily on service provided to him. Given the style of football that Gianfranco Zola wants Blues to adopt, chances should fall Jutkiewicz’s way.

His current average is one goal per 2.5 games. That would give him a total of around 17 or 18 goals after 46 Championship league games. Jutkiewicz has become a key figure for Blues since his loan move from Burnley, so much so, the move was made permanent recently for £1m.

If Zola can get Blues ticking the way he wants them to, there’s no reason why Jutkiewicz can’t at least come close to the 20 goal mark.


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