Boss Mick McCarthy says he’s delighted that former Blue Aaron Cresswell has made an impressive start to his Premier League career with West Ham with the 24-year-old already tipped for England honours.

McCarthy also confirmed that, as reported at the time, Championship Fulham were close to signing Cresswell prior to his £3.75 million rising to £7 million summer switch to the Hammers.

The Liverpudlian has played every minutes of all 11 of West Ham's Premier League games this season and has claimed two assists as they have climbed up to fourth in the table.

“I’m so happy for Cressy because when we were selling him I rang Sam Allardyce and asked him if he was interested in him,” McCarthy revealed.

“They had been looking at him but maybe he wasn’t aware that it was imminent, that it looked like he was on his way to Fulham.

“Fulham wanted him but we knew the clubs who had been looking at him and West Ham were one.

“I just had a conversation with Sam. I knew they’d been watching him and had been in for him, we’d spoken to them.

“And of course Cressy wanted to play in the Premier League, and I thought he should. And he’s proving that that was exactly the right decision and I’m glad he is.

“He was such a great lad, he was totally low maintenance, got on with it. Low maintenance, high class, that’s what he was.

“I went to watch West Ham’s U21s play against Manchester United recently and I spoke to a couple of their staff and they all said that he was doing great. I’m really pleased.”

He believes it was a great deal for West Ham: “I think they’ve got a bargain when you consider all the money they spend on players. Cressy’s a proper lad, he doesn’t cause any aggravation. He’s great.”

Asked about Cresswell’s England prospects, he added: “It’ll be interesting, [it’ll be a] good competition between him and Tyrone, won’t it!”

Photo: Action Images

Jimmy86 added 06:44 - Nov 13 Glad he's doing well and is receiving the plaudits he rightly deserves. If he had gone to Fulham I'd have been really hacked off, because although they have found it tough they are in the same league as us!!! Thought the idea behind us selling him was to allow him to play premier league football, which he's doing and doing well. Mings has done well so far and when cress left, had big boots to fill, but as yet I don't think ty is even remotely near as good as cress was, yet he is rated at 10 million. Guess it's because of the enormous potential he has. But in my opinion he's not as good as cress yet

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Blue_75 added 07:49 - Nov 13 As good as he is, I'm not sure Cressy would've got back in our side after Mings' impressive and effective performances!
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cooper4england added 08:15 - Nov 13 Nice work MM, stimulating the market. I bet he had a long list of clubs he phoned round bumping up the price.
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rfretwell added 09:08 - Nov 13 Micks so canny! A great appointment by Marcus Evans.
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SouperJim added 09:12 - Nov 13 Whether Mings is already better than Cressy is tough to call because they are very different players (albeit in the same position). Cresswell clearly has more experience and is playing at a higher level well, but Mings for me has the potential to be the better player due to his sheer size and power. For that reason alone the figure being bandied about for Mings is already much higher than the one for Cresswell ever was and rightly so. I just hope that we can get ourselves up before we have to sell Mings. I would love to watch him tear up the premier league Hreidarsson style and win himself a place in the England squad.

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Simonds92 added 11:43 - Nov 13 Think Cressy is underrated by a lot of ipswich fans. Tyrone has been a revelation and is really exciting to watch, a very good replacement for him BUT cresswell was continually solid at the back never put a foot wrong and comfortably dealt with any challenge he was given as well as having the most assists in the country! It's great we've not really missed him which is a testament to Tyrone but his ability shouldn't be underestimated.

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Surco72 added 12:34 - Nov 13 Agree totally with Simonds92... I find it hard to compare a top performer for us over three seasons in a struggling side with a player who has played a quarter of a season in a team on a high . Mings has been excellent but compare after a whole season and when the big bids actually come in rather than paper talk , can see Cressy in an England shirt before Mings IMO
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Jimmy86 added 12:43 - Nov 13 Blue 75 when Cresswell was here Mings couldn't get in the team ahead of him and that tells you all you need to know. If cressy had have stayed then Mings would probably have gone on loan, coz he got the hump about not playing ahead of the best left back in the league. Cressy was brilliant, chipped in with goals and was top of the assists charts. Mings is a different player though and has raw pace and power to get behind opposing teams back 4. Has a lot of potential, bit in my view not as good as cressy yet

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big_gaz67 added 12:45 - Nov 13 Long term Mings will be a footballing Centre Half rather than a full back - in the mode of Rio Ferdinand at his best....
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