Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard is confident he can still crack the 20-goal barrier in the Championship this season.

One of the leading marksmen in English football's second tier with 11 goals to his name, the £2.25m record signing has netted only once in the last 12 games.

Yet he is adamant he can add to his tally in tomorrow's home game against Preston North End and eventually surpass the 20-goal barrier which represents the benchmark for all top strikers.

"All strikers set targets and those that say they don't are lying," declared Maynard.

"I set myself a target of 20 goals before the start of the season and I've been bold enough to come out and say so. It's no secret.

"I wanted to score 10 by Christmas and I managed to do that, and now I want to kick on and get 20 or more. Although the goals have dried up a little bit recently, I'm still confident I can reach that mark.

"Despite results not going for us at the moment, I feel we're still playing some good football and I know that chances are going to come my way. It's a matter of being a bit more clinical inside the penalty area."

He added: "I tend to score goals in clusters and I was pleased to get one against QPR on Boxing Day. Hopefully, that will set me off on another scoring run, starting with Saturday's game against Preston."

Bristol City FC may have won only once in 11 games and not since October 20 at Ashton Gate, but Maynard believes recent setbacks have made the team mentally stronger.

Referring to City's habit of conceding late goals, which started against Preston at Deepdale on the opening day of the Championship season, Maynard argued: "It's character forming. Of course, it's not ideal to be letting in so many late goals and it's cost us far too many points already. But these things tend to bring you closer together and make you stronger.

"We've learned the hard way, but it's definitely made us stronger as a unit and more determined than ever to put things right and challenge for the play-offs."

Ironically, it was City who scored an injury-time goal to peg back arch rivals Cardiff and earn an FA Cup third round replay in midweek and Maynard contends that Gavin Williams' superb last-gasp strike can spark a revival in fortunes.

"When you let in late goals and draw games you should be winning, it feels like a defeat," said Maynard. "We've had enough of opposition teams coming back into the dressing room shouting and screaming because they've just rescued a point.

"It made a real change for the boot to be on the other foot against Cardiff and Gavin's late goal has definitely given the lads a lift.

"Things like that can turn a season around and we feel it might be a turning point for us. It's something positive to take into the Preston game."

City have been further boosted by news that midfielder Marvin Elliott could be fit to line-up against the Lilywhites at Ashton Gate tomorrow.

Injured during the second half of Tuesday's Cup tie, Elliott was given little chance of facing Preston after complaining of discomfort in his hamstring.

But the problem is less serious than initially feared, the Londoner responded well to treatment yesterday and Robins boss Gary Johnson is refusing to rule Elliott out of tomorrow's contest.

He said: "We'll see if Marvin is able to train on Friday morning and have a look at him then. But it's more of a problem with his lower back than his actual hamstring and he's definitely in with a chance of playing some part at the weekend."

Should Elliott fail a fitness test, Johnson is likely to recall either Evander Sno or Gavin Williams to the starting line-up.

Scottish Premier League side Falkirk are set to complete the signing of Enoch Showunmi after the striker was released by Leeds United.

Showunmi, 27, scored six goals in 28 appearances for Leeds after signing from Bristol City in 2008.