New signing Sylvan Ebanks-Blake will have no trouble settling at Town, according to his former Wolves team-mate Stephen Hunt.

The pair enjoyed some good times together at Molineux and Hunt underlined Ebanks-Blake’s value when he said: “I hadn’t spoken to Sylvan since I left Wolves but although he had a few options he obviously feels comfortable about signing here. Before he got injured last season he was flying and scoring goals on a regular basis.

“It probably cost Wolves their Championship status in the end, him not being able to play. I don’t think they would have been relegated with him in the side. But we are delighted to have him here and he’s flying and ready to go.

“He’s a goal machine, a natural finisher. Sometimes he strikes the ball cleanly and it goes in but other times he’ll scuff them and they still go in. That’s a good sign of a striker who knows how to score and what to do in the box.”

He added: “I know — and both Mick McCarthy and Terry Connor certainly know — what Sylvan brings and hopefully he can get us goals. That’s his main attribute in terms of how he goes about his business.

“Don’t be fooled by his body language because sometimes he can look like he’s in a sulk. Generally he’s not. He can moan on the pitch but he just wants to score goals and he wants to win.

“The game’s all about different characters and how to deal with them. I think he’ll fit into the group no problem at all. He’s a funny character.

“When I first went to Wolves I was thinking ‘Who’s this such and such a person’. But once you get to know him you get to like him and he’s a lovable rogue to a certain degree.”

Ebanks-Blake adds to manager McCarthy’s striking options going into the hectic Christmas programme, although it may be 2014 before he features much.

Hunt added: “All the strikers at the club are different. Murph and Frank are the big guys, Sylvan backs into people and likes to feel defenders so he can hopefully turn them and shoot.

“Murph is a link-up player and Frank is off the cuff a little bit sometimes and effective, while Didsy is obviously on fire. That’s the way I see it.

“We’ve got ourselves into a good position going into the Christmas period and hopefully in the next three or four games we can build on it and look to get up the table.”

“If you can have a good Christmas it sets you up for the new year and the second half of the season in a positive frame of mind. It’s better than being in a position where you are thinking ‘This is going to be a tough second half of the season’.

“We are all looking forward to it and can’t wait for it to happen. I’m fresh — I’ve only played in four of the last seven games — and I hope to get loads of games between now and the end of the season.”

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

nutter added 07:30 - Dec 24 hope so steve. i think a goalscorer is all we need for a top six finish. merry christmas everyone. COYB
8

RedDust added 09:01 - Dec 24 I really wouldn't minds stearman too though!
3

daniel9624 added 09:12 - Dec 24 Anyone else remeber the last time we had four top strikers all of whom could come in and offer something, and thats without young Marriot, who I'm sure will be Towns future, but learning from these players all with different attributes and something they can teach him, bodes very well!
4

shakerbreaker added 09:15 - Dec 24 SEB, Dids and Murph up top. Really quite exciting.
4

bedsitfc added 09:32 - Dec 24 After Xmas I can see the team going back to 4-4-2 Goalkeeper and back 4 picking themself then Taylor skuse hymn hunt . Seb dids
1

bluemikey100 added 10:01 - Dec 24 4 regular goalscorers in team be gud like mariner brazil wark and gates we got murphy, diddy ebanks and hope nouble can or maybe taylor
0

alfromcol added 10:33 - Dec 24 HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL FELLOW POSTERS
1

Jimmy86 added 11:11 - Dec 24 Im sure SEB is a goal scorer without a shadow of a doubt, but the question remains, will we be able to give him decent enough service from the midfield and wide areas for him to be able to score?? Fingers crossed tje answer is yes. Merry xmas to all, heres for a productive festive period COYB
0

blueboy1981 added 14:09 - Dec 24 ..... with Hunt (fit) and in Midfield, and EwB (fit) and in the squad, we are looking sound and capable. However the RB position desperately needs sorting - and Wordsworth's creativity needs to be found a place for in Midfield before the whole thing rolls as it should. Make no mistake these are two very good additions - but need the above to compliment them.
0

blueboy1981 added 18:01 - Dec 24 ....... this guy requires service, so we better get it sorted - something our Strikers have all lacked for far too long. If he gets it - he knows where the net is for sure.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls