Birmingham City's Craig Gardner is desperate to reach double figures for goals this season.

And he admits that his shoot-on-sight policy makes him believe he is going to burst the net every time he lets fly.

Gardner has nine goals to his name, making him Blues' leading goalscorer. And his trademark efforts from around the edge of the penalty area – with both feet – have been hugely significant.

Take, for example, the strike that sent Blues into the Carling Cup Final.

He peppered West Ham United’s goal, hitting the post in stoppage-time, before driving in the decider in the semi-final second leg.

“I just think to myself now that every time I get a sight of the goal I’m going to let rip because they have been flying in lately,” he said.

“Hopefully they will continue to go in because there’s no better feeling than scoring and, of course, when they are quality goals too it’s great.

“It’s nice when I look back at them and watch them fly in the net.

“It’s even better to see how far away the goalkeepers are – I’m not going to lie, it’s a great buzz.

“But scoring a goal from two yards also gives you a big buzz. Goals are important in general.”

When plying his trade for bitter rivals Aston Villa, Gardner began to carve out a reputation for his shooting.

It was one facet of his game that alerted Alex McLeish, who has praised the combative midfielder for the role he has played this season.

McLeish reckons that Gardner is a Frank Lampard in the making, and is improving all-round as a footballer.

Gardner insists he has scored goals ever since he was a boy and that his younger brother Gary, still at Villa, is following in his footsteps.

However, it’s not been without hard work and hours of dedication to improving his shooting skills.

“Some days after training I stay behind and work on my shooting – it’s something I’ve done a lot,” he said. “Some of the other lads join in too. It can only be good for your game. It helps your confidence because if you are banging them in in training it allows you to give it a go during a match.

“I’ve always had that feeling in my mind that I want to score goals so whenever I get the opportunity now I just pull the trigger.

“I’ve scored goals like that all my life. It must be in the blood because my brother smashes them in like that as well.

“It’s not all about the goals though, it is about getting three points. Obviously it’s fantastic if we’re winning and I’m scoring but if I score and we lose there’s no point.”

Gardner has scored more goals this season than any other so far in his career but is refusing to rest on his laurels.

Just one more will see him into double figures with Newcastle United’s Kevin Nolan the only English midfielder in the Premier League with more, although Nolan’s role is not as a traditional central midfielder, like Gardner’s.

Gardner, though, seems no closer to a full England call-up.