Tony Mowbray is crossing his fingers that Andri Gudjohnsen returns to Blackburn Rovers fit as he prepares for more game time with Iceland.
Rovers have been reliant on their number nine after injury to Yuki Ohashi and Mathias Jorgensen. It means they have not been able to rotate him out and have started the last three league matches without a recognised striker.
Having amassed more than 400 minutes by the start of September, Gudjohnsen has been managed carefully in the last three weeks.
That will be out of their control for the next fortnight, with Iceland having four games in that period. They play Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday before Rovers host Cardiff City on October 10, potentially making it five games in 14 days for the forward.
Mowbray believes he will score 20 goals this season if Rovers can keep him fit and is hoping he returns to Lancashire without any issues.
"I'm pretty sure I'll be proved right; if he plays enough football matches this season and stays fit, he will score very close to 20 or over 20," Mowbray insisted.
"I think, because we are going to create the number of chances for him to do that, and I'm pretty sure with his talent, he is going to take them chances when they come, or a majority of them chances when they come.
"The predicament with Gudjohnsen at the moment, of course, he's got four games for his country coming up next week, starting next week, and if he's going to score 20 goals, he'll need to play close to 40 games.
"So fingers crossed he can stay fit, he can help us, and I do think he's a very talented individual who can play like I like, so I want good footballers on the pitch."
Gudjohnsen's predatory instincts were well known from his debut season, despite injuries limiting his impact after Christmas.
His hold-up play and physicality has been a major improvement his term, having bulked up after a year in the Championship.
Quite quickly, he is looking like a striker who can do a bit of everything and, most importantly, put the ball in the back of the net.
"He's a guy who wears number nine on his back," Mowbray continued.
"I think he's number nine, but he plays in the number nine position, and where he can handle the ball. The ball's easy for him, I think.
"It's not somebody who has to finish one touch with his header, or his side foot's running on the six-yard box.
"Even though he can do that, I think the ball can come in and he can protect it, and he can get a hold of it, and he can set the midfield players, and he can spin and get slid back in.
"I think he's a good footballer playing up front and there are plenty of attributes to his game."
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