Boss Mick McCarthy believes hard work and momentum are behind Daryl Murphy’s transformation from a “10-goals-a-season man” into a player who seems set to become the first Town player to net 20 league goals since David Johnson grabbed 22 back in the 1999/00 promotion campaign.

Murphy, 31, took his total to 19 with his flicked header from Freddie Sears’s cross during Tuesday’s 2-1 home victory over Sheffield Wednesday.

Asked what was behind Ireland international Murphy’s remarkable campaign, McCarthy joked: “Wonderful management and coaching! If you believe that, you believe anything.

"Murph signed his contract, he’s got a number nine on his back and, actually, he played well last year.

“Where does momentum come from? Goals, because David McGoldrick was the goalscorer last year, everything he touched turned to goals. This year he’s had a bit of frustration that it hasn’t worked for him.”

McCarthy again paid tribute to his assistant Terry Connor’s work with the Irishman on the training field.

“Murph works at it, he works regularly with TC,” he added. “Friday mornings, he puts his finishing sessions in after training and he’s reaping his rewards through working hard at it.

“He’s always been a good player, everyone’s recognised that, he’s always been a threat, he’s always been good in the air and strong and quick. He’s been a 10-goals-a-season man. What is he, 19 this season? He’s worked hard at it.”

Since Johnson's 1999/00 22-league-goal haul Shefki Kuqi and Darren Bent came closest to reaching 20 when they both netted 19 times during the Blues' 2004/05 Championship season.

Kuqi eventually added another in the play-offs as the Blues lost out to West Ham, while Bent was initially credited with a 20th goal in the early season game against Wolves before it was officially recorded as a Jody Craddock own goal.

Photo: Action Images

Sir_Bob added 06:24 - Feb 12 Cristiano Murphy will get us back up the table - Good lad
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Steve70 added 06:53 - Feb 12 Well done Murph!
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Suffolk_n_Good added 07:19 - Feb 12 Has been excellent this season, thought he looked back to his best on Tues, deserves the plaudits 👏⚽️👍
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Steelmonkey added 07:30 - Feb 12 Yes he is having one heck of a season, long may it continue. Up and at them Murph.COYB's
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bluefeast added 07:40 - Feb 12 If he gets another 8 ,and Sears gets 8 ie 1 in 2 each then we will be ok for the play offs. One of the others bournmouth ,watford middlesborough , brentford , norwich ,wolves will have a bad run soon ,hope we've had our turn.
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streety86 added 08:04 - Feb 12 I agree with Suffolk n good murph looked back on top form on tues night, big game on sat 3 more points would put us nearer to being back on track
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martleshamitfc added 08:28 - Feb 12 Agree he had a great game on Tuesday, worked so hard and looked dead on his feet last 10 minutes. Just worried too much on shoulders as we have no direct replacement for him.
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TimmyH added 09:51 - Feb 12 To do what Murphy has done this season and hopefully will continue to, he has been fantastic considering his age to then go on such a goal scoring spree. If he keeps injury free he'll beat David Johnson's 22. Certainly proved a few wrong on here who reckoned he wasn't a regular goal scorer.
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Warkys_Tash added 09:53 - Feb 12 Agree with Mick, last season he was very good. I felt it was his best season for us at the time. This year he has gone on another level, keep it up Daryl. We now need McG to get back to form. Although he hasn't scored the same amount of goals this season, he has very much been at the heart of many assists for Murphy. Up and including thevCharlton game where he hit the post twice & scored he was quality - had has just had a blip like the others in Jan - fans need to continue to back him. I have a friend who is a Derby fan & he thought McG looked a danger against them in the Jan fixture - probably the reason Eustace was constantly fouling him! It would be nice to see a front 3 at Fulham, incl Sears.

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CitrixBlue added 10:20 - Feb 12 Came third behind McGoldrick and Berra for player of the year last season, at the moment I suspect he'll storm this seasons and deservedly so.
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Kirbmeister added 10:42 - Feb 12 Warkys Tash - at last a positive comment about McGoldrick and not before time. Apart from recent weeks during which he has so obviously been carrying a knock (and he also probably hasnt fully recovered from the serious knee injury last season either) he has been superb for Town. The recent critisism on here by a lot of different sources has been disgusting - lazy, disinterested, back to his Nottm Forest days etc. They will be 'fans' who never played and dont realise that all players suffer dips for a variety of reasons. McG is class and dont forget it.

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skinnyman27 added 11:17 - Feb 12 did marcus stewart not get over 20
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blueherts added 11:34 - Feb 12 Stewie - what a legend - 19 goals - leading English scorer Agree about Dids - a good player who probably wasnt enjoying balls flying up around his head for a month so he was dropping deeper and deeper Play like Tues and he can be a great link up Sign Chris Wood on loan as cover for Murph Murph has been OUTSTANDING - probably the biggest change I have seen in a player Class

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Pilgrimblue added 12:02 - Feb 12 I agree with Warky too but while Mcg has had assists he's a long way from last season when he did more that just rattle the woodwork. His body language is all wrong and his shooting is so slapdash. If three up front then fine he's in but if not then I'd keep Freddie in. One thing is for sure, we need cover for Murph as priority. If nobody comes then I'd have Chambers up front as his header was quality

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SouperJim added 12:28 - Feb 12 Chambers up front? Mings surely!
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Kirbmeister added 13:32 - Feb 12 Pilgrimblue McG has played very well in a lot of games this season. I dont recall a lot of critisism about him on here prior to the recent results.
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JWM added 13:41 - Feb 12 Isn't it a damning statistic that No Ipswich Striker in 15 years hasn't reached the 20 goals mark for the season! Talk about going to hell in a handcart! Its embarrassing quite frankly.
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JWM added 13:42 - Feb 12 * has reached
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