Returning St Neots Town star Drew Roberts has heaped praise on the man who has shouldered the goalscoring burden in his absence.

The Hunts Post: Fit-again Drew Roberts in action for St Neots Town last season. Picture: CLAIRE HOWES.Fit-again Drew Roberts in action for St Neots Town last season. Picture: CLAIRE HOWES. (Image: Archant)

Roberts has been impressed by the impact made by summer signing Tom Meechan in his debut Southern League Premier Division season.

Meechan has already fired 18 goals after arriving from Godmanchester Rovers where he struck 53 times in the Thurlow Nunn League last term.

And the goals have proved valuable with Roberts - the top scorer in the Premier Division for the last four seasons - only just fit following a knee operation in the summer.

“Tom has done very well stepping up two levels,” said Roberts. “He has been thrown in at the deep end due to injuries to myself and other attacking players, but he has been flying.

“I just want to get out there and start scoring goals myself. It has been so frustrating missing so much of the season and hopefully there won’t be a reaction to the injury.

“I usually set myself a target of 20 goals for the season - 10 before Christmas and 10 after - but hope to get more. Right now I just want to get my first goal and hopefully they then will start flowing.”

Roberts was an unused substitute when St Neots beat Dunstable 1-0 in a Premier Division clash at the Premier Plus Stadium 10 days ago and then made his first appearance of the campaign when starting their Red Insure Cup defeat at the hands of local rivals Cambridge City on Tuesday.

Roberts played the first half of a game which ended in a 2-2 deadlock before visitors City prevailed 3-2 in a shoot-out. It was Saints’ fourth defeat on penalties in the past 14 months.

They are back in knockout action tomorrow when hosting fellow Premier Division side Hungerford in an FA Trophy second qualifying round tie.