ADAM Lallana is closing in on one of the rarest feats in Saints history – scoring 20 goals in a season from midfield.

Lallana’s double in the 2-1 win against Leyton Orient on Monday took his tally for the campaign to 18.

The 21-year-old hailed those two strikes as his most important of the season, as they kept Saints’ play-off dream alive.

Lallana is now within touching distance of reaching the 20-goal mark.

With seven games left this season, there is every chance he will achieve it.

But he insists it is not something he is paying much attention to.

“It’s not really in my mind at all,” said Lallana.

“I just take each game as it comes and see where I end up at the end of the season.

“I just want to win games.

“If that means me scoring and getting to the 20-goal mark then fantastic.

“But I don’t really concentrate and look out for personal tally marks.

“It’s just about getting the win and whoever scores brilliant.”

Of his 18 goals this season, 13 have come in the league, one in the FA Cup, two in the League Cup and another two in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, including a header in the Wembley final.

If Lallana is able to breach the 20-goal barrier, it will be a landmark moment in the club’s history.

Matt Le Tissier was the last man you could perhaps classify as a midfielder that managed it.

He scored an incredible 30 goals in the 1994/95 season, under the management of Alan Ball.

But, having played so many roles in his illustrious career, it is difficult to classify him as an out-and-out midfielder.

Not since the 1983/84 season has one of those got close to 20 goals.

Then, it was Dave Armstrong, who banged in 19 in all competitions, with 15 coming in the league.

Going further back, legendary number seven Terry Paine achieved the feat in 1963/64.

Saints’ record appearance holder bagged 22 that season, with 21 coming in the league.

Although Paine is generally classified as a forward, he played his career as a winger.

That is a similar position to what Lallana has adopted this season, with the mercurial talent playing most of the campaign on the left side of midfield.

It is difficult to truly compare Lallana’s accomplishments to those other names, who achieved their marks in the highest league.

But the club’s academy product is the first out-and-out midfielder in 24 seasons to reach double figures in league goals during a single campaign.

Armstrong was the last to do so, with ten in 1985/86.

Lallana is also close to matching Armstrong’s best league tally for a season.

Twice – in 1981/82 and 1983/84 – he managed 15, and Lallana, who has said he will “100 per cent” be at Saints next season, currently trails that mark by just two.