Brett Pitman admits to being a frustrated substitute but he is a long way from knocking on manager Mick McCarthy’s door for showdown talks.

When asked if he had done so Pitman laughed and responded: “I haven’t done — not yet. If you’re coming on and scoring goals I don’t think you need to do anything else like knocking on the manager’s door.

“That speaks for itself and I think I’ve done alright. The last time I looked I was top scorer so it speaks for itself.”

Nor is Pitman the type to spend most of the game warming up along the touchline in the hope of catching McCarthy’s eye.

He added: “I’m not really sure that works. I think the gaffer knows what he’s got on the bench and what different people can do.

“I don’t think you can suggest ‘I’m ready to come on’ by warming up. I don’t see him making a change just on the back of that. You’ve just got to be ready and hope that when you do go on you do something good.”

Pitman’s late goals as a substitute clinched recent home wins over both Leeds and Reading and at this stage of his career he can cope with the frustration of starting on the bench, adding: “You learn to deal with it but you’re still not happy when you’re on the bench.

“It’s really up to the player, any player, when he does get chances to play or come on as a sub, to make sure he does well and tries to force his way into the team.

“Any player needs to have a run in the team rather than being judged on just one game. It’s only fair and it applies to anyone, regardless of what position they play, but I agree it probably applies more to forwards.”

Pitman has scored goals throughout his career and in two spells with Bournemouth sandwiched either side of a stint with Bristol City, he was a prolific marksman.

“Add the nine he has netted for Town since leaving the Cherries last summer and it brings his all-time tally to an impressive 140.

But he is more versatile than many people might have realised, operating as he has for McCarthy in roles on the wing or just behind the main striker. He is not, he insists, “just a number nine”.

Pitman explained: “I didn’t even play there once for Bournemouth last season. That probably answers the question.

“When Daryl [Murphy] and I played up front it was for about eight games in a row and we were only beaten by Middlesbrough and Derby, who are first and fifth in the Championship at the moment. We did alright.”

Asked if he regarded himself as a natural finisher, he added: “A lot of it is probably natural but I also work hard on it and I have done from an early age.

“I suppose it comes more naturally to me than others but I put in the hours during the week because I want to keep improving and not drop my standard.”

Photo: Action Images

Seasider added 12:34 - Feb 13 Well said Pitts
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