Billy is one of the best!

Paynter struck his 14th goal of the season from the penalty spot on Tuesday night as Swindon saw off Stockport to climb to fifth place in the table.

It was his 10th time he had found the back of the net in just 14 games and, coupled with a series of impressive performances this season, the Scouser has become a wanted man.

A number of Town’s rivals are tracking the player who is out of contract in the summer, and Easton believes Paynter, 25, is finally getting the plaudits he deserves.

“Billy works so hard and I’m glad for him because he was in the shadows a lot last season, despite having a really good year,” explained Easton.

“He’s a brilliant target man but he’s not even that big. I’ve seen bigger guys up front.

“You always think target men should be six foot two or something like that and Billy isn’t as tall.

“But he looks a lot stronger and has got more to him than a lot of target men.

“He’s shown that and he’s got the goals as well to back it up.

“At the start of the season we were playing a different formation with only Billy up front because there wasn’t many options up there.

“But he led the line and ran himself into the ground, and you always know what you’re going to get with him.

“If he keeps on going and we keep providing him with great balls in then he will definitely smash any amount of goals he’s previously got.”

Easton also believes that Town’s recent run of just one defeat in 10 league games has proved that they are well worthy of the play-off place they currently hold.

“Although we haven’t played Leeds yet, we’ve played most of the teams and it’s clear that anybody can beat anybody,” he admitted.

“If we can keep a run going, keep winning at home and pick up anything we can away from home then we can get where we want to be – in the play-offs at the end of the season.

“As for the top two - I don’t know, but every team is due a bad patch and with games in hand we could capitalise on that.”