Scoring bonus? Scunthorpe United player Mark Duffy relishing chance to head a Big Mac attack

He has spoken openly about his aim to increase his goal tally this season.

But perhaps the Scunthorpe United management team could utilise a secret weapon when encouraging Mark Duffy to find the net.

Ten is his target, Tuesday's against Notts County was his second so far.

The Iron winger jokes a goal bonus would do the trick – or a little treat he used to enjoy as a kid.

"I used to get a McDonald's if I got a hat-trick," he laughed!

"The gaffer (Alan Knill) and Brassy (assistant boss Chris Brass) are always saying I should be getting at least 10 goals.

"Brassy always encourages me and really supports me.

"He says a player of my calibre should be getting at least 10 goals, so if I don't get that this season I think he'll be cracking the whip.

"I said to him, if you get me a goal bonus you might see me shooting a lot more!

"That's what the strikers do! That's why they don't pass to me!"

More goals and less cards seems to be the priority for Duffy.

He already has a sending off behind him, against Crawley, to go with the one he got at Bury last term.

Losing players to suspension is something the short-handed Iron can't afford to do.

Josh Walker's dismissal at Hartlepool on Saturday was their second, and Duffy admits discipline is high on the agenda.

"The gaffer spoke to us about it as a group," he said.

"Our red card count last year was nowhere near good enough. Some of them were a bit dubious, but at the end of the day we had nine red cards.

"We can't afford to have anything like that this season because the squad's thin as it is.

"The gaffer gave me a slap on the wrists for getting one already, but I thought it was very, very harsh.

"Personally, I think the ref got caught up in Crawley's first game in League One and the first game of the season.

"They seemed to foul us and got away with it, we did lesser fouls but then got yellow cards. It was just one of those days really, a day we'd like to forget about.

"I definitely wouldn't class myself as a dirty player who goes round trying to kick people. It was just unfortunate really.

"I had one at Bury last year.

"The gaffer told me, make sure it doesn't happen again and learn from it."

That is something Duffy is doing a lot of this season.

Manager Knill started the campaign opting for a 4-1-3-2 formation and has emphasised the need for quick passing football.

For Duffy, it proved a test of his fitness.

"I'm not going to lie, it's hard on the lungs in that formation," he said.

"The gaffer calls it the energy positions and it is tough in there because you're expected to break the play up, then pass it forward, then get on the end of a cross. Then, if the cross is over-hit, you're expected to do another 80 yards back.

"There's moments in the game where you're absolutely blown, but that's what your team-mates are there for.

"They can pull you through and give you a piggyback back!

"I feel a lot fitter and stronger now.

"And this season the gaffer is asking us to play a little bit differently, so it might be more one or two-touch football, more than me getting and running with the ball.

"You might see a different side to my game.

"It's definitely a good thing and hopefully I might get more goals; that's my aim, anyway."