By Paul Fletcher

Abbott is the leading scorer in League One

Huddersfield boss Peter Jackson reckons striker Pawel Abbott deserves a call-up into the Poland national squad.

Abbott, 22, is League One's top scorer with 11 goals and Jackson told BBC Sport: "He looks extremely good.

"It would not surprise me if the Polish national team came calling because they will have noticed his progress.

"I see him at training every day and can see he is a natural goalscorer and if he gets a chance on a Saturday he usually takes it."

Abbott initially moved to Preston on loan in February 2004 before joining permanently for a nominal fee one month later.

His arrival followed shortly after the departure of local favourite Jonathan Stead to Blackburn for �1.25m.

"We sold Jon for big, big money and I needed a replacement, someone who could score on a regular basis.

"It was always going to be an extremely hard task but Pawel is well on the way to doing that, averaging a goal every other game since he arrived."

Huddersfield are currently eighth in the League One table, three points off the play-offs and Jackson knows he needs a striker scoring more than 20 goals in a season if the club are to challenge for their second successive promotion.

Pawel worked hard in pre-season and is now getting the benefits Peter Jackson

"You only have to look at Championship leaders Wigan - they have two goalscorers in Jason Roberts and Nathan Ellington who are on 10 and 11 goals.

"Stead would have scored 30 plus if he had stayed last season and Pawel is well on his way to scoring more than 25.

"If we are going to do anything this season we need someone to score that amount.

"Pawel has formed a good partnership with Junior Mendes, who has scored six in his last five games - they are one of the top strike forces in the division."

Abbott's goal this season are also a testimony to his strength of character.

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A poor back pass by the striker on the last day of last season cost his team the win that would have ensured automatic promotion.

He found himself out of the team for the semi-finals but returned to the team for the final, which Huddersfield won on penalties.

"Pawel has responded really well," added Jackson.

"He worked hard in pre-season and kept his head down and he is now getting the benefits."