Are goals enough?

Last updated : 09 April 2009 By Dane Vincent

Goal-den boy: Butcher has scored 20 times since arriving at the club in 2007.
Last season's top-scorer could be classed as one of the club's most valuable assets - based solely on his goals.

Since joining Notts from Peterborough in 2007 the midfielder has chipped in with an impressive 20 strikes.

12 of those came last season where he popped up at crucial moments, most notably against Wycombe in the relegation deciding penultimate fixture.

This term he has failed to replicate the same form despite managing to find the net eight times in all competitions.

Early into the campaign he appeared to be on track to match or even exceed his previous haul and supporters tipped him to earn the team's Golden Boot for the second year running.

A fractured fifth metatarsal in the November 30 FA Cup clash with Kettering, however, hampered his progress and kept him out of action for more than two months.

Since his return, which has seen him regularly operate alongside John Thompson, the former Lincoln man's performances have been a little erratic.

Many users of the site's messageboard have suggested that the only thing he offers is goals. On the other hand, many have warmed to the industrious midfielders determined offerings.

Are goals enough? Does he need to contribute more to the team's efforts? More importantly, should he be presented with the chance to remain at Meadow Lane past the summer?

To cast your vote in the first of the 'NCM Select' polls head back to the homepage where you can find the census half-way down the right side of the screen.