The Burnley striker has smashed seven goals in 13 games so far this season and is hoping to get the nod to partner record goal-scorer Healy in Slovenia tomorrow night.

Goals have been hard to come by in the first two games and when Sunderland hitman Healy doesn't find the net, Northern Ireland tend to struggle.

But Paterson's arrival on the scene, coupled with Kyle Lafferty's return to fitness, has given boss Nigel Worthington something to think about before the clash in Maribor.

Paterson could start alongside Healy with Lafferty supporting the front pair from a wide left position.

And if Paterson does get his chance from the start, he is confident he can display the tricks Healy has taught him to contribute his first goals to the World Cup cause.

"Obviously I would like to help out with goals but I don't think anyone can ever take the heat off David Healy," said the former Scunthorpe striker.

"With his record and the run he's gone on in the last couple of years, he is outstanding and rightfully a legend.

"His goal record is something I would like to have and I hope I can chip in with my amount of goals.

"Obviously I had seen what he had done for the country before I joined up with the squad for the first time and when I meet up with the squad now I just watch what he does in training and how, when he gets a yard, he sticks the ball in the corner.

"When I go back to my club I just try to do the same things he does and if you get half-way there then you'll be okay.

"I came in to the squad thinking he was a great finisher and what I've seen has just confirmed that.

"He is a poacher and a goal-scorer and I hope I'm the same. We are a bit different as players but we both want to score goals.

"Whether he's in the box, or outside the box he looks to get a shot away and more often than not it finds the target.

"He is so positive and that is something I have taken from him and there is no doubt he has made me a better player in the short space of time I've been playing with for Northern Ireland.

"I'm progressing well at club level and my next aim is to score for Northern Ireland."

Having lost the opening game against Slovakia and drawing against the Czech Republic, Worthington's troops have one point on the board with two games gone.

But Paterson doesn't think it is a must-win game on Saturday with two games with San Marino to follow.

He added: "I don't think we have to win, if you look at the points available then we don't necessarily have to but it would be nice to go in with the mindset that we are here to win.

"We have to be professional and put the Slovakia defeat to bed – and that never gets easier.

"We have to kick on now. We've two new games and two new opponents and we can't affect the last two games."