DORCHESTER Town striker Jack Odam fully understands the pressure that is on him to deliver goals this season, but is relishing the challenge that lies in front of him at the Avenue.

The 19-year-old, pictured, who joined the club earlier this month after being on loan at Lymington Town from Gosport Borough, is ambitious to repay the faith that Magpies’ manager Graham Kemp has shown in snapping him up.

He was part of a cash-strapped Bashley outfit that suffered relegation from the Southern Premier League last term, but with higher expectations in the county town, Odam is determined to be a hit.

The frontman, who was close to penning a deal with the Magpies in pre-season under former boss Phil Simkin, said: “I like the pressure, it pushes me on and gets me motivated and hopefully I can succeed.

“I just wanted to get back into the league and I always loved going to Dorchester, the ground is lovely and I’ve always scored goals there, so it seemed the right thing to do.

“I am really enjoying it, there is a really good group of lads there, Kempy is a good gaffer, and I’m settling in really well.”

Odam, who also attracted interest from Weymouth in the summer, has put a figure on how many times he wants to find the net this term.

“I usually set myself a 20-goal target in any season,” he added.

“Last year I didn’t have a lot of support player-wise at Bashley, I was captain too which was a big weight on my shoulders and I think I handled that really well as well as scoring a few goals.

“Even though I haven’t been there since the start I’d still like to reach that now with the service I should get provided from Dan Smith and Ben Joyce.”