Points to prove, targets to meet so goals to get; back in business David McNiven is relishing a starting-chance to shoot-down his hometown club.

After starring as a substitute in Tuesday night's defeat to Chesterfield, York City's top scorer is expected to start his first game at Blackpool tomorrow since the 4-0 drubbing by Darlington earlier this month.

It gives the striker a gilt-edged opportunity to bag his first goal of 2001 and add to his season's tally of nine.

Importantly, it gives McNiven a chance to prove his goal grabbing during the first-half of the season was no flash in the pan.

"It is the one thing you don't want to be labelled as," admitted the 22-year-old, signed as cover after impressing during a summer's trial before emerging as City's biggest goal threat.

"The nine I've got so far isn't too bad considering the top scorer last year got 11 but I've always got things to prove," added the former Oldham hit man.

"I've just got to try and get into double figures and hopefully move on from there; 15 to 20 goals is definitely my target this season.

"I just want to get a decent run in the side now and take the chances when they come."

The fact his father, also called David, used to play for Blackpool and his family still live in the seaside town merely added to his growing list of incentives.

"Without a doubt it would be special to score against them," he told the Evening Press.

"It will be nice to go back to Bloomfield Road, it will be the first time I will have played there since I became a professional.

"There should be a good family turn-out and I've got loads of mates who all want tickets."

McNiven admitted it had been a testing time having to be content with a place on the bench while City, with just one goal since the New Year, have struggled to score.

"The only bad match I have had was the Darlington match in the LDV Trophy, and no one played particularly well that game," he said.

"But we have been playing different formations, I've been playing on the right and we have just been trying new things.

"It's just been a case of working hard on the training pitch and trying to getting back into the old routine of scoring goals

"It was nice to get back into the swing of it on Tuesday and now I just want to score some more goals now."

McNiven admitted he could have moved into double figures against the Spireites but was unfortunate to see one effort come back off the crossbar.

"I had a few chances on Tuesday but that is the way it goes. At times like that you have just got to dig deep and hopefully things will come right on Saturday.

"It was a lot better performance from the team on Tuesday. Everyone was together and we looked at it right from the start. Hopefully, we can carry that through to Blackpool."

City manager Terry Dolan believes his softly-softly approach with McNiven in recent weeks will reap dividends.

"It is easy to forget that this is the first season David has been a regular member of a first team squad. That didn't happen in all his time at Oldham," said Dolan.

"He's our leading goalscorer but has had a dip in form, as have other players.

"I had a chat with him the week before because he was starting to worry and I told him not to. I just wanted him to do what he was doing a couple of months ago. He got his chance on Tuesday and looked sharper which I was pleased about."

Updated: 11:42 Friday, January 26, 2001