JAMES Constable admits the form of strike partner Tom Craddock has given him added incentive to get amongst the goals for Oxford United.

The club’s top scorer award has been won by Constable for the last four seasons, but he has plenty of work to do to retain the trophy in this campaign.

The 28-year-old has three goals so far this season, trailing Craddock by seven after he reached double figures with a brace against Dagenham & Redbridge last week.

It is part of a hot streak which has netted the former Middlesbrough trainee eight goals in seven games.

Craddock’s displays last month earned him a nomination for npower League Two’s player of the month award, which the 26-year-old will find out today if he has won.

Constable, who has played a major role in Croddock’s form by providing several assists, is delighted his strike partner is receiving recognition, but admitted it had fired him up to regain the mantle as United’s leading man.

He said: “Tommy’s done really well and it’s great to see him nominated for player of the month, he’s done brilliantly and fully deserves it.

“There’s a little bit of pressure on me now to hopefully have a month like he’s had next month.

“I want to be up there scoring the goals and nominated for awards, like any player.

“It gives me that extra inspiration to get up there and obviously the fact that I’ve been the top scorer for the last four years it gives me an added incentive to get a few goals and try to catch him up.”

The pair should be reunited for the trip to Chesterfield tomorrow, after Craddock recovered from a rib injury which forced him off at half-time against Torquay United last weekend.

Constable had opportunities to increase his tally for the season, but was unable to break the deadlock in the 0-0 draw.

He said: “There were a few chances. The one that dropped on my left foot I should be hitting the target from six yards out, but it went over.

“I thought we should have got a penalty late on and if they go in, you win 2-0 and everything’s a lot rosier.

“On a personal note it takes a couple of days to get over it, but working this week in training gets you back on track and you look forward.

“Having seen how well we’ve played, on a different day we could have scored three or four.”