PNE defender's still goal-Hunting

Huntington netted nine goals last season, including in the play-off final at Wembley, finishing as the club’s fourth-highest scorer.

But 37 appearances this term have yet to produce a goal, with fellow defenders Tom Clarke and Bailey Wright in the same boat.

Although his main duty is keeping the goals out at the other end, Huntington regards scoring as part of his job.

“I probably should have got one at Middlesbrough on Saturday,” Huntington told the Evening Post.

“The ball fell in the box and I sort of left it for Eoin Doyle and he left it for me.

“Maybe I should have hit it, Eoin did eventually get a shot in and it got kicked off the line.

“It is strange that myself, Tom and Bailey haven’t got a goal between us this season.

“Last season I got nine, which was a decent amount for a defender.

“I will keep trying until the end of the season and hopefully one can fall for me.”

Huntington was back in the starting XI at Middlesbrough, in place of concussed skipper Clarke.

He had been on the bench for the three games before after returning from a short absence with a calf injury.

For last week’s game with Fulham, Huntington was off the bench and into the action within 11 minutes after Clarke suffered a head injury.

“I had a dead-leg in the calf area before the international break and it took a little bit longer than I expected to get right,” said Huntington.

“I’ve been back for the last couple of weeks, I got on late in the game at Blackburn and then I was needed early when Clarkey got his injury.

“As a team, I think we have been a bit unlucky in the last games against Fulham and Middlesbrough.

“Fulham didn’t do much attacking but scored with a couple of chances they had.

“At Middlesbrough, I thought we did okay and deserved more.

“They got their tails up after scoring and we had to hang on until half-time.

“In the second half we were very good but just couldn’t get the goals we deserved.

“It is time to look forward now and we are back at Deepdale on Saturday to play against MK Dons.

“After two defeats, we want to get back to winning ways and finish the season strongly.

“We have had a good season but are not resting on our laurels – we want to finish higher than where we are.

“There are five games left, the next one against a team who are fighting relegation.”

Meanwhile, Carlisle United’s academy manager Alan Moore is set to join PNE’s academy this summer.

Moore will work as youth development phase coach with the Under-12s to Under-16s.

That position was previously held by Stuart Delaney, who has joined the FA.

Moore joined Carlisle in December 2013.