AMBITIOUS centre-back Jeff Eckhardt has put down a challenge to Newport County's strikers for the club's top goal-scorer accolade.

The free-scoring 38-year-old is currently alongside frontman Neil Davis as the Exiles' joint top-scorer with seven goals so far this season - but Eckhardt is desperate to show County's hitmen that he is the man with the golden boots.

"When I played in midfield for Stockport County and Fulham I scored around ten or 11 a season - that's because I had a goal bonus," quipped the veteran of more than 500 Football League appearances.

"But to score seven before December, as a defender especially, isn't bad at any level.

"I've never been in such a rich vein of scoring form in my 20 years as a footballer.

"I would love to top my best season's tally and I want to be County's top goal-scorer at the end of the campaign - that's my new aim.

"I just love scoring goals, there's no better feeling than having scored for your team. I'll just keep getting into the right areas and hope the ammunition keeps coming in."

The Sheffield-born veteran paid tribute to his supply-line of Gary Lloyd and Andrew Mumford, whose teasing centres have set-up all of Eckhardt's goals.

"The major difference between this season and last is the quality of balls into the box," Eckhardt pointed out.

"Gary and Andy whip the ball in with such pace that if I get a yard away from my marker then the defender cannot recover in time and I have a chance to score.

"Last season the balls into the box had too much air on them so if I lost my marker they had time to recover and clatter me before the ball had reached my head.

"With Gary and Andy's quality of delivery from dead-ball situations, it means people like me and the striker can get opportunities.

"However, we still need to improve on our crosses from open-play."

Peter Nicholas' County, the form side of the Dr Martens League Premier Division thanks to just one defeat in 11 matches in all competitions, today travelled to Ryman League Premier Division high-fliers Hornchurch, who boast a record of just one loss in 14 game, for an FA Trophy second round game.

Big-spending Hornchurch, George Borg's full-time outfit from Essex, pride themselves on a defence that has only been breached once in nine games.

"It's a challenge, but I'm ready for it," smiled Eckhardt.

"We now have the quality to create chances against any side we play, we just need to take those chances."

Apart from his one-game suspension, Eckhardt has been ever-present and crucial to County's recent revival under former Welsh international Nicholas.

His leadership qualities and inspirational defending has so often led to praise from his manager.

And even at 38, Eckhardt is not thinking of retirement because, as he said, "I feel as good as ever.

"During the summer I went to the gym at six o'clock in the morning before I started work and that has stood me in good stead.

"But, since the season has started, I haven't lifted a weight. I haven't even put the weight-bench up since I moved house. I just train with the team twice a week because rest, at my age, is almost as important as exercise.

"The secret is going to bed early otherwise I would be shattered. I'm just lucky that my ten-month-old daughter, Libby, can sleep for England - actually she sleeps more than me!"