Eoin Doyle couldn’t care less if he scores with his feet, head or even his Adam’s apple once the goals are flowing.
A prolific scorer throughout his 10-years in English and Scottish football, the striker opened his account last week on his League of Ireland return this season.
And Doyle is hoping those efforts against UCD and Finn Harps will be the start of a run as top-of-the-table St Pat’s head for fellow title contenders Derry City tonight.
Doyle laughed: “I scored in the President’s Cup and was told it was a competitive game, until it wasn't after and I hadn't scored for three or four games!
“But I was delighted to get another one on Monday. You need to get those first ones out of the way to get a bit of a rhythm going.
“You'd be thinking about it alright but I've had plenty of it over the years, so I'm used to that feeling of going on a bit of a run having not got one.
“But I'm glad I've got them now even if the one on Monday against UCD came off my Adam's apple.
“The lads give me a bit of stick with the size of it, so they're not surprised! Most of my goals are never pretty so I'm happy to be off the mark.”
Doyle, 34, was one of the most eye-catching close season signings in the league but St Pat’s have to carefully manage his load.
He already has half a season under his belt at Bolton Wanderers where he was playing regularly up until his January move.
The Brandywell was also a grass pitch the last time the ex-Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers attacker played in the league.
So playing on its new artificial surface tonight is another factor that Doyle and his 30-something limbs have to contend with.
He said: “It's the first time I'll have played on an artificial pitch since I've left. I didn't even train on an astro in the UK when I was over there.
“They’re not allowed in the Football League.
“Harrowgate came up from the Conference to League Two but they had to play in Doncaster for a year and then rip up their astro and put down grass in the meantime.”
Doyle believes St Pat’s are back on track after successive defeats to Sligo Rovers and Bohs.
But he expects Derry City, with their financial clout, to be in the fight for the long haul even with Michael Duffy breaking his leg on Monday.
“It's terrible for him, I saw the clip of it and it looked like a bad one. Hopefully it's not as bad as what it looked at the time and hopefully he gets back quick. It's brutal
“But anyone within the game knows that Derry will be up there come the end of the season.
“They have recruited very well with big names who can make things happen in the right areas of the pitch.
“They’re picking up results and are playing realistic football as well. It's not as if they are just tippy-tappy and going about the place.
“They’re playing long when they have to and doing the right stuff. I'm really looking forward to playing against them and seeing how it goes.”
Doyle feels it suited Derry to play down expectations in pre-season but warned they have to deal with reality now.
He added: “If you're up there, you're up there and going to be talked about, simple as that. It's another pressure.”
