Wolves boss Paul Lambert is getting the best out of me says Dave Edwards
David Edwards believes Paul Lambert is getting the best out of him – as he targeted a career-high 15 goals this season.
Edwards has netted six goals under Lambert including a double salvo in the 3-1 win at Barnsley on Tuesday. Those goals equalled his career best tally of nine, set in the 2013/14 League One season. Edwards now hopes to reach double figures at Burton tomorrow in Wolves' first ever competitive trip to the Pirelli Stadium.
"I'm enjoying myself," the 30-year-old said. "A lot of credit has to go to the manager. The style he plays and the position he allows me to play really brings out the best in me, I feel. I play a bit deeper but that means I can arrive in the box a bit later, like for the second goal.
"He's given me that freedom and playing alongside Jack Price, who keeps the centre of the pitch so solid, he doesn't leave that and it allows me to roam around a bit.
"It's not just me that's the reason I'm scoring, it's the people around me as well. I'm desperate to get to 10! My target was to get to 10 by January. I nearly did it, but I think I can go on to 15 this year.
"It was nine in League One. But if you look at calendar years, I only scored one goal before January that season (2013/14). So the last three years I think I've scored 30 goals, or close to, in three calendar years.
"I'm in the best goalscoring form of my life. I do feel that the work I put in in training, and after training sessions either on my own or with Rob Edwards or Pat Mountain, on arriving in the box and making sure my finishes are clinical, makes a difference.The second goal at Barnsley is one I practice, arriving late. It's like all the hard work in my career has been building up to this last couple of seasons."
"The best times of my career are coming at the end. I love playing for this club, I don't want to be anywhere else. I'm delighted to sign a new contract and to be playing a run of games is great.
"When you're playing week in, week out it allows you to get into a rhythm. I feel like every time I get on the pitch I can score a goal."
Wolves have won six of their past nine matches in all competitions – their best run of form for almost two years.
While the play-offs remain a long-shot, with Wolves 11 points off sixth place, Edwards isn't giving up hope.
His Oakwell heroics came just three days after the 2-1 FA Cup win at Liverpool. But the midfielder believes his 'medium intensity' game means he can play every week.
"I just want to play every single week," he added.
"I believe the way I play it's not like the front boys where it's really explosive, my game is more sort of long distance and medium intensity.
"I know my body really well, I know what I need to do to recover. Three games in a week isn't a big deal. We've got a lot of competition and the longer I can keep my shirt the better.
"I think the cup run will help us. If we can hopefully go and beat Chelsea and improve our league form it'll give the fans something to get excited about for next season.
"A lot of people maybe expected us to not have that intensity at Barnsley because of what happened on Saturday. But the manager was onto us since Sunday morning that the league is our bread and butter and it's the league form we need to improve to get us up the table."