Manager Mick McCarthy says striker Frank Nouble has thrived in the three-man strike force he has employed in recent games. The 22-year-old, signed from Wolves for a bargain £25,000 a year ago, has started six of Town’s last seven games.

Fans have been impressed with the former Chelsea and West Ham man''s workrate, which McCarthy is delighted to hear: “He has to do that, that’s expected every week, then if you can play well with the ball, that’s a bonus.

“I think he’s thrived in playing the way we’ve played, Big Frank. He’s not had a lot of football. He’s been one of those lads, I think people have seen something in him, taken him [on loan] and then thought ‘Hmm, maybe not’ and sent him back. He’s had more loans than Wonga, but he’s settled down now.

“I wanted to sign him at Wolves. We talked about him and when I left TC signed him and I think they’ve got a good bond between them and TC certainly gets the best out of him on the training ground.

“And he’s improving. He’s a young fella, he’s only a young man. You see this young, powerful athletic fella and expect [too much of him], he looks beyond his years, but he’s just a young fella learning his trade and he’s now getting worked and coached and nurtured and is playing in a team and is feeling better.

“It’s only a few weeks ago I chewed his ears off, it’s not that long ago he nearly didn’t play for having a face on because he wasn’t in the team.”

He says Nouble, who has scored twice so far this season, has needed regular first team football: “You can coach them all you like but they have to play and they pick it up.

“I remember some of the most valuable lessons I learned weren’t somebody talking to me on the coaching ground, it was when it happened to me on the pitch and afterwards you’ve asked and they’ve said 'This is what you needed to do, that was what you needed to do', and you don’t let it happen again.

“Should I have got across the man? Should I have gone in behind? What’s my movement? I think you pick it up from playing. You’ve got to play.

"Jack Marriott will be a better player for playing down at Woking. I’m glad Frank’s being appreciated because he does work hard.”

Photo: Action Images

keanokeano added 06:25 - Jan 9 He's had more loans than wonga is my new favourite quote by MM haha brilliant.
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stevelincsexile added 06:48 - Jan 9 Impressed with his work rate then if you can play well with the ball that's a bonus unfortunately I think that sums up MM teams its not always how you play as long as you don't lose that's why he let JET go.
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bluemikey100 added 07:36 - Jan 9 did we ever play with 3 pronged strikeforce with jet who has more of an eye for goal
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TrabzonBlue added 08:01 - Jan 9 "..then if you can play well with the ball, that's a bonus" - conversely, if you can't play well with the ball then you should not be called a professional footballer (goalkeepers excluded of course).
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Len_Brennan added 08:07 - Jan 9 He may be working hard & have improved somewhat, but I'm still not convinced by Nouble. He would very much be number 5 in the pecking order of the 5 strikers Mick has for a match day squad at the moment, when fit. McGoldrick & Ebanks-Blake have the quality & carry the greatest scoring threat, Murphy is a better option for having strenght, height & awkwardness up front, with a finish, while Taylor has the pace & trickery that could unlock a defence. For me Nouble is a 'throw him on & see what happens' last quarter sub at best, certainly with the othdr options we have.

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svendust added 08:19 - Jan 9 Certainly has a lot more to improve on but Mick sees some potential and big Frank deserves our support
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flashblue added 08:40 - Jan 9 I'm sorry, he is rubbish.
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TownNo1 added 08:47 - Jan 9 I thought he was quite poor against Preston in the cup, he only won one header all game and he was taller than their defenders!
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portman23 added 08:49 - Jan 9 He never wins a header, his ball control is shocking, his awareness is awful. he's not good enough.
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ChrisMakin2012 added 08:58 - Jan 9 This will score a lot of minus votes i'm sorry but he is rubbish. Cannot win a head, cannot control the ball and never scores.
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Cloddyseedbed added 09:01 - Jan 9 Unfortunately Frank falls into the same bracket as Jet. Love it or hate it and I don't mean hate in a bad way! He is not everybodys cup of tea the way he plays and I'm not too shy to say, he is not my favourite player. I am not convinced Frank is good enough or will be good enough. Goalscoring is not something you can coach into a player can you? All goalscorers seem to be natural and have a talent to put the ball in the net, from whatever age they start playing. I am one supporter who believes that after a few weeks out on loan Marriot should return from on loan and be used in the 1st team or in the 1st team squad coming on as substitute at least. This lad has talent, natural talent and will only get better. He can and does score goals. My thoughts are I can not see that Nouble will. Just running around a lot does not make you a good footballer. Shefti was, because he could score goals and defenders were unsettled by him. I do trust Mick but I feel this time he maybe wrong, but I'm sure he'd like to prove me wrong and I hope in a way he does.

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blueblood66 added 09:21 - Jan 9 have eyes people. He actually has a nice touch for a big fella and chases lost causes, its what he is in the side for. Leave the flash stuff to Dids..a basic understanding of the game is lacking in many so called fans these days, those who jeered Wordy and Hyam for example.
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teddydale added 09:24 - Jan 9 Love MM he is top draw, but what he sees in Nouble i will never know, cant win a header, cant control a beach ball, and he only chases the ball and works hard because he's reactions are so slow. there is a reasons he's had so many clubs at a young age, I spent the majority of a game watching him the other week partly in astonishment how this bloke made it pro, he makes good runs options but its always too late and after the throw, ball has been past.

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ipswichboi added 09:36 - Jan 9 I like him purely because of his work-rate, totally agree with MM. You wouldn't want him coming at you if you were a Defender/Keeper on the opposite team.
1

rachelsdad added 09:36 - Jan 9 He is a big bloke with enthusiasm and pace but wins very little in the air and has very limited ball skills, there must be better options out there ??
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alfromcol added 09:44 - Jan 9 Anyone who saw his cross to Murphy to score the goal at Bournemouth and the cross against Charlton in the last few minutes that Dids almost scored from to win the game will know why MM has him in the team. Given time he will get better and better.
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ericclacton added 09:55 - Jan 9 I just do not get any of that, sorry.
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Bergholtblue added 10:01 - Jan 9 Worst striker we have had at this club since Sam Parkin. I would rather have Priskin back!
-5

DurhamTownFan added 10:04 - Jan 9 Comparisons with JET are interesting. For me, they are only similar in their lack of end product: while Nouble runs his but off for 90 mins before cocking it up when he's on the ball, JET did almost no running before cocking it up on the ball. One interesting stat: JET has now scored 18 goals for Bristol City this year. Granted, that's at a lower level, but it is still interesting. What I think it means for Nouble is that it conforms MM's ideal player: all effort, all physicality, which means it doesn't matter if there's no end product. If he can only improve his decisions on the ball (which should come with time) then I think he has the potential (note that: the potential) to be a decent player for us.

2

muccletonjoe added 10:13 - Jan 9 If marriott had been given the same opportunities I think we would have a very good striker by now , I see no improvement at all in franks game , against Preston he reallly didn't get to grips with a division one defence. Can't agree with you on this one mick.
2

Fat_Boy_Tim added 10:23 - Jan 9 According to the comments on this web site we are carrying a third of our strike force in Nouble, a third of our midfield in Hyam and a quarter of our defense in playing Chambers out of position. MM doesn't seem to think so and we are sitting 6th in the table having played every other team in the division and all the "best" teams away from home. Seriously, if the players were playing as badly as people keep bleating on about we would be in trouble just as we were 12 months ago. As for Nouble, I like his work rate and attitude on the field, I think he puts a lot of pressure on the opposition defense simply by closing them down and forcing them to make quicker decisions, it reduces the quality of the first pass out of defense and gives a chance to re-gain possession. I agree his finishing skills are right up there with Richard Naylor and Skefki Kuqi (Even though Kuqi managed 20 goals in a season!) but he is doing a job.

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Lightningboy added 10:25 - Jan 9 Glad Frank's starting to get a run of games..he needs to start chipping in with a few goals tho. Still think Mick should/coul',ve persisted with JET and we might've seen the sort of form he's been showing for Bristol City..I'm still not sure what he sees in Anderson that was better than JET..goal-wise at least.
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mickymacsbarmyarmy added 10:27 - Jan 9 Frank (the plank) Nouble...what can i say??..the man who's first touch is so poor his second touch is always a tackle !!
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Karlosfandangal added 10:46 - Jan 9 The mentioning Naylor has reminded me how the fans did not rate him, Yet he played over 300 games and played for many different managers, Richard Wright was another who go stick here yet he plated in the prem with 4 different teams and again different managers. Murphy is another and only as he has not scored 20 goals this season yet bring something different to the team. As for Nouble the fact he is in the side may be the reason McGoldrick has hit a purple patch as defenders are watching Nouble and leaving McGoldrick with more space. Loach was a god at the beginning of the season and Gerken was a waste of space, now the view have changed. I always think of Putney never the best of players but won balls and did the dirty work for the other to take the glory.

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Garv added 10:49 - Jan 9 Sadly so little emphasis on good football. Got to admire the faith and patience put in big Frank, but he still shouldn't be inthe team imo. If Taylor doesn't get a start on Saturday after last week I can't see him ever being in Mick's plans, which would be a shame.
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