Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley has admitted he believes he can find the back of the net on 20 occasions every season with the Blues, The Telegraph reports.
The English international, who is yet to get off the mark in the current campaign under new boss Maurizio Sarri, made the move to Stamford Bridge from Everton at the beginning of the year.
Despite failing to register a goal or assist this season, Barkley has started in both league fixtures under former Napoli manager Sarri and is targeting a similar career to former Blues number eight, Frank Lampard. On the Lampard comparison, Barkley said:
Frank is an example for me. He joined the club at a similar age to me and was at a similar stage of his career.
He’s someone to look at with the success he achieved for the club and for himself. I’ve played with Frank and I saw what he was like around England, and how much of a top professional he was.
Both Barkley and Lampard made 196 senior appearances prior to joining the Blues during their respective careers, with Lampard scoring nine more goals than Barkley during his time with West Ham.
However, despite only managing 31 goals in his career to date, the 24-year-old believes that becoming a 20-goal a season midfielder is achievable with the Blues. He continued:
I believe I can hit the 20 goals a season mark. It’s a lot, but it’s achievable.
You see Lamps do it and Stevie G, and Scholes. It’s just starting in training first, scoring goals there and practising every day.
Chelsea are always competing to win things and that was my thought to push myself and reach a new level. And get to a level that I haven’t been at, but that I know I am capable of getting to.
