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McCarthy: Bru Made Immediate Impact Tuesday, 11th Nov 2014 06:00
Town boss Mick McCarthy says he couldn’t believe midfielder Kevin Bru’s ability when he joined the club on trial in the summer. The 25-year-old impressed during that spell and won a one-year contract with an option for a further season.
Having quickly broken into the side, Bru has now made seven starts and four sub appearances and has been one of the Blues’ top performers in recent games.
Yesterday, he was named in the Football League's Team of the Week following his performance against Watford on Saturday in which he was involved in the well-worked set piece which led to the winning goal.
“I couldn’t believe he walked through the door with the ability he looked like he had in training and in the pre-season friendlies,” McCarthy recalled.
“I thought the same about Balint Bajner in the pre-season friendlies and he’s found it tough.
“He’s improving in training, but he openly admits that he was never used to getting battered like he does against Christophe Berra, Chambo and Tommy Smith in training. He was the big fella that could do things.
“He’s sort of stalled a bit but is doing all right in training and getting better, but Kevin Bru has just been great when he’s played.
“I thought he was excellent at Derby when he played in behind and I thought he was terrific against Wolves. Whenever he’s played he’s looked a really good Championship player.”
Bru, who was with the French elite national football centre at Clairfontaine as a youngster, first broke through into senior football with Rennes, with whom he made two Ligue 1 sub appearances in the 2006/07 season.
The Parisian continued his career in the French second division, spending time on loan at Châteauroux and Clermont Foot before joining Dijon FCO on a permanent basis in January 2010.
He moved on to US Boulogne a year later and then spent 2012/13 with FC Istres.
Last season, after a reported £200,000 move, he scored one goal in 26 appearances in Bulgaria with Levski Sofia, featuring in their two Europa League qualifying round games, before leaving at the end of the campaign.
Having won U18 and U19 caps with France, Bru switched international allegiance in 2011 and has won two caps with Mauritius, for whom he qualifies via his parents.
McCarthy revealed that it was a former Norwich loanee now working as an agent in France who recommended Bru to Town.
“I’m prepared to take people in and have a look at them,” he continued. “The irony is that it was Antoine Sibierski, the ex-Norwich player, who brought him in. Good lad!
“He said ‘Would you have a look at this lad?’. We had a look at him on our systems and TC said ‘Gaffer, he looks like a good player, he’s technically good’, so I said ‘OK, we’ll have a look’, and he brought him in.
“I’ve had thousands of players come in over the years and I’ve had a look at them and you go ‘Thanks, but no thanks’.
“But you’ve got to keep doing it if you’re where we are and sometimes you get… not lucky so much as it’s part of the job. It’s not lucky if somebody rings you up and you say ‘Yes, we’ll have a look’, they bring him in, he trains, he plays and then you have to make a decision on them, and I thought Kevin was well worth signing.”
Photo: Action Images
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He really does look like another fantastic signing and is still only in his mid 20's. A really good efficient player who rarely gives the ball away.
The next thing you need to do Mick, is call him into your office and agree the extention to his contract as he is far too good to enter January with only months left on his existing deal. COYB
Bru's been fantastic! I'm fully confident Mick will prep the lads for Bournemouth match and that we can get a result there. I don't underestimate them but they are only above us for that freak result at Birmingham. COYB!
Thought he was excellent again Saturday in defence and attack , good vision that we have been lacking with some of his switches of play , very all round competent player
bru was outstanding against watford! i love a player who wants the ball all the time, as it shows he is full of confidence. he has so much flair, and is so fancy on the ball. with bru, hyam and the bish, with williams and if we need collision, our central midfield is as strong as i can remember!
I think we might need a new left back,with all the paper talk 10 million for Ty Mings.id love to see the referees assessment by Mick.Its way passed time that punishment is handed out to opposing teams best players,being hard is one thing,plain brutality and thuggish tackles are not to be allowed if the refs won't protect us we have to let teams know we,re not a soft touch.Interested what the whingers have to say about Mings now and Bru,Hunt.And those classy players at Rotherham, Jack who the star who cannot score in the conference.I think it's well proven that MM knows what he's doing
Gutted to have missed the last two games and Bru in particular. He's been good whenever I've seen him, played an important part in our early season upturn in form starting at Derby.
What also doesn't hurt is he has a distinctive resemblance to Pablo!
I have been hugely impressed with Bru in the last two games. He is comfortable on the ball, runs all day long, looks to have a half decent shot and can pass. Would like to see him get an extended run in the side now. One of those players who just always seems to make time when in possession. Terrific signing.
He looks like he has so much time because his touch is so good, he must feel that he really belongs in the side now which has done his confidence no harm..
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