Ipswich Town striker Daryl Murphy knows he’ll be dropped if he doesn’t end his goal drought soon.

The 32-year-old finished last season as the Championship’s 27-goal top-scorer but has failed to find the net in six starts and two substitute appearances so far this campaign.

Meanwhile, fellow front men Freddie Sears, David McGoldrick and Brett Pitman have scored 10 between them heading into tomorrow’s Championship match at Blackburn.

“I’m frustrated,” admitted Murphy. “Last year they would come off my knee and go in off anywhere, this year not so much.

“I’m not too worried though because as long as I keep getting chances I know the goals will come. I’m sure one will come sooner rather than later.

“It’s great that the manager has kept faith with me, but there is only so long he can keep doing that with me not producing with the competition we have now.

“I knew from the start that I wasn’t going to be a guaranteed regular this season because there’s such good competition for places now. The gaffer has got a headache every week deciding who to play. He’s rotated us a bit and I know I need to start scoring to stay in the team.

“It’s a nice little bit of extra pressure on me to start scoring because if I don’t do that I’ll find myself on the bench.”

Murphy, who attracted plenty of interest this summer before he signed a new two-year deal at Portman Road, played 57 games for club and country last season due to Town’s involvement in the play-off semi-finals and his recall for the Republic of Ireland.

“It was a long season, but the gaffer gave me extra time off, so there was no problem with that,” he said. “When I came back in pre-season it was tough, probably a bit tougher than previous years, because I was probably playing catch up for a few weeks. But I’m feeling good now.

“I think 20 still has to be the goals target, I don’t see why that can’t be achieved, but I know I need to be consistent and playing regularly to do that. It’s up to me to perform.”