ANDY Taylor believes Wanderers can remain in promotion contention this season without a “20-goal-a-season” striker.

Though Zach Clough is joint fifth in League One’s scoring list on seven, the goals have been spread throughout Phil Parkinson’s squad over the course of the first 20 games.

Wanderers have not had a player reach 20 goals since Michael Ricketts in 2001 and while Clough’s target is to double his current tally – Taylor reckons his team-mates can continue to spread the load and still be successful.

“When I got promoted with Cardiff to the Premier League we did it comfortably but I don’t think we had one player who’d scored more than 10 goals,” he told The Bolton News.

“Other clubs have done it too, and it goes to show you don’t need someone who gets 20 goals a season, so long as they come from all areas and that everyone’s contributing.

“You need people making goals, you need people scoring them, but I don’t think it needs to be the same player all the time.

“The way we’re going at the moment I think we’re doing okay.”

Wanderers face Gillingham at home on Monday – with all tickets available for £5 – the first of five games remaining in 2016.

The year is finishing on a much more positive note than it began for Whites fans and Taylor hopes that the club will still be in an automatic promotion spot after the festive period.

“Christmas is a busy period for us and we need to pick up as many points as possible to make sure at the turn of the year we’re in a strong position,” he said.

“That’s when you can really start looking at the table and assessing that we’re aiming for.

“We are buzzing at the moment. Results on the pitch are a massive factor and they breed a happier environment around the training ground, the stadium, the town.

“We have started really well and I hope that can continue until the end of the season.”

Monday’s opponents Gillingham are sweating on the fitness of midfielder Billy Knott, who limped out of their 3-0 win over Rochdale with a hamstring injury.

Frank Nouble and ex-Wanderers loanee Chris Herd are now fit again and could make the trip for the televised game at the Macron.