JAMES BEATTIE has set himself a target of 25 goals to win the prestigious Premiership Golden Boot award.
The Saints striker was pegged back on Wednesday night after a fortuitous Thierry Henry double put the Frenchman level on 21 in the race to finish leading scorer, with Ruud van Nistelrooy also closing in fast on 19.
The trio stand clear as the best forwards in English football this season and, with Paul Scholes, Alan Shearer and Gianfranco Zola, have all been nominated for PFA Player of the Year award.
Beattie admitted he felt humbled to be shortlist for one of the top individual honours in the domestic game and has already pledged his vote for Arsenal's Henry.
He said: "It is the highest accolade to be nominated for the PFA player of the year by your fellow professionals. When it comes from the other players it really is a great honour."
Beattie has scored in each of the last five league games and confirmed he will also be claiming last week's second against in the FA Cup semifinal against Watford when he bundled the ball home along with Hornets fullback Paul Robinson.
"The Golden Boot also means a lot and to score goals every week is just brilliant," he said.
"It's hard to score every week but if the lads keep giving me the chances hopefully I can keep it going."
Saints boss Gordon Strachan, who was named the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year in 1991, backed Beattie's PFA nomination.
He said: "I am delighted for James. He is a first class character both on and off the pitch and thoroughly deserves to be nominated.
"It shows that the players who have come up against him this season realise just what a good striker he is."
England left-back Wayne Bridge also praised his teammate and admitted he hoped Beattie will join him in the next England squad after being surprisingly dropped from the one that faced Liechtenstein and Turkey a few weeks ago.
He added: "It was a great achievement to have had two Southampton players make the England squad this season.
"He is the top goalscorer and I was very disappointed for him to be overlooked.
"But he has taken the right attitude and carried on scoring so hopefully that can continue and fingers crossed he will get into the next setup."
Despite all the excitement surrounding the FA Cup final, the Golden Boot and the PFA nomination, Beattie said he was fully focussed on an Easter double against Leeds at St Mary's tomorrow and Birmingham at St Andrews on Monday.
He said: "It will be very easy to stay focussed on the league and I'm sure we would get a roasting from the manager if anyone said otherwise.
"The lads are certainly professional enough to keep it going. If we play as we know we can I'm sure we can still climb up the league.
"They will be tough games. People talk about us being under pressure last week, but pressure is when you are scrapping for survival.
"Leeds have had some good results and they will be pretty high and full of confidence after recent weeks.
"The atmosphere was the best I have ever known at St Mary's for the Wolves game, so hopefully there will be more of the same against Leeds."
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