Town boss Mick McCarthy admits that he has been surprised by striker Brett Pitman’s technical ability and has praised the summer signing from Bournemouth for his selfless approach to the game.

The 27-year-old, who has scored five goals in 12 starts and eight sub appearances for the Blues, opted to leave the Cherries on a free transfer in the summer having helped them to the Championship title last season, believing he wouldn’t have got too many chances in the Premier League.

Asked whether he thought the Channel Islander might have made an impression in the top flight, McCarthy said: “Let’s hope he gets the opportunity!

"I’ve said to Brett that he’s a much better player having turned up here than I ever thought he was.

“He was a good player but he’s surprised me with the technical ability that he has. He’s a very good player.”

Reflecting on two incidents in recent games where Pitman dummied just outside opposition areas, he added: “Against Wolves he let one go at the edge of the box, they nicked it and it ended up in the back of our net from a corner.

“[Then at Charlton] he let it go, Dougie helps it on, we scored the third and it was a thing of beauty.

“It shows you, thin margins between being good and bad. But he’s a good player, Brett. He’s very selfless in the way he plays.

“I asked him to sit on Alou Diarra at Charlton last week because he was causing us problems, we changed the shape and matched them up.

“It probably messed his game up, his own game, but he messed the other fella’s game up which sometimes is what you have to do.

“If you’re 2-0 up, you don’t have to do anything else, just win the game. He went and did it without any complaints.”

Pitman has partnered Daryl Murphy up front in recent weeks with Freddie Sears often in a role wide on the left.

The ex-Colchester man went 10 league games without a goal and McCarthy says he was relieved to see the 26-year-old get back on the scoresheet in the 3-0 win at the Valley.

“I knew a goal would come,” McCarthy said. “I said I was more relieved than he was because he’d been playing so well. I think he’s been brilliant, outstanding since he walked through the door.

“He’s got better and better and playing on the left, sort of playing a bit of a loose role on the left, he’s caused all sorts of damage.

“And every game he could have had a goal, maybe two goals. And every week I’m saying ‘Freddie, you’re brilliant, it’s great mate, you’re doing a great job, you’re playing well, it’s great for the team’.

“But ultimately he’s a goalscorer and he wants to score. So, I was relieved for him but I was more relieved for me because I was running out of rhetoric. You can’t keep saying the same things.

“He’s got to believe he can score from there and get his goals. He knows he can because he’s had his chances. He’s probably had more chances playing there than he has when he’s been playing up front.

“But you’ve got to score them then to believe in it and he did at Charlton. He’s been great, I’ve been delighted with him.”

Photo: Action Images

GiveusaWave added 06:04 - Dec 10 Been delighted with the impact Pittman has made. We have a number of really good strikers now. The days of Parkin/Fallon/Ellington are long gone. Pittman isn't the fastest forward but makes up for it with technical ability.
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Len_Brennan added 06:58 - Dec 10 Pitman is a goalscorer; first & foremost it's his finishing which is his strength. It's all well & good lauding how he has adapted to the roles MM has given - and I agree that he has done it well without any obvious complaints-but to me it's just another symptom of a confused approach that Mick has had this season. I am a Mick fan & have supported him on here quite a lot over the years, but I don't get why he has brought in a number of players only to play them, unnecessarily out of position. The obvious Chambers/Smith v Jonny Parr or no new full back thing at the back of course. But I also feel that he has had to maybe guaranteea certain amount of game time to his 4 strikers due to the way they have been deployed. I think Freddie Sears is a wonderful player & he's probably my favourite signing in recent years, but he is most effective up front through the middle. Sure he has do a good job out wide, but Mick brought in 4 wingers over the summer, who are more natural in that area. Of course Fraser got injured, but even before he had the system was being hanged to accommodate the 4 quality Strikers, some of whom were clearly out of form at the time. I know it's all a balancing act for good managers & it's nice having options, but I think Mick's desire to turn certain straightforward positional players into this utility adaptable entity isn't helpful & takes from their own natural abilities & confidence at times.

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bluefeast added 07:21 - Dec 10 Sears on the left , no way has he had more chances ,just look vs Boro ,he spent 75% of the match in our defensive half covering our left back. Madness Mick ,round in round , square in square equals balance. Stop trying to reinvent the wheel.
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Bluejake added 07:32 - Dec 10 Good points Len, fully agree.
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 10:35 - Dec 10 Last time I let one go at the back of the box my manager wasn't so pleased.
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essextractorboy93 added 15:28 - Dec 10 Pitman isn't the fastest or strongest but he's a very clever player. 4 good strikers at the club right now
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terryf added 18:08 - Dec 10 I like Pitman and Murphy for the different qualities that they can offer the Team, but personally I would love to see a fit McGoldrick playing behind Sears up front with two pacy wingers, a fit Fraser/Oar and Maitland Niles with Skuse and Bishop/Bru in central midfield. Get Parr into one of the full-back positions (neither present occupants seem to completely fit the bill) and we might start playing some possessional rather than territorial football. It would certainly be easier on the eye for us supporters. When some pundits keep referring back to what Mick has done for us, I say yeah, great, now lets move on. If you were running a Company you wouldn't employ a manager, especially one that's very well paid, to fail. We need to move onto the next level sooner rather than later. Very surprised Mick didn't go in for the likes of Richard Stearman in the summer, rather than spending peanuts on the Polish guy. I sincerely hope he makes the grade but what season is that likely to be?

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