Town striker Freddie Sears makes no attempt to conceal his desire to have a run in his preferred role through the middle.

“That’s my position, I’m a centre-forward and I’d love to be playing 4-4-2 alongside a big man,” said Sears, who has grown accustomed to operating wide, more often on the left, and following manager Mick McCarthy’s instructions to track back and fulfil his defensive responsibilities.

“But it’s a dying art nowadays. The 4-4-2 system is no longer as popular as it once was so I’ll play where I’m selected to play and wherever the gaffer wants me to play. I’ll just get on with it.

“Playing wide is very different. I’m working a lot harder for the team and last year I had nine assists, which I’d never had before, and I picked up another one on Tuesday against Burton.

“At the end of the day I’m a striker being judged on what I do playing wide left. But that’s football and I’m happy with that. I can deal with it and hopefully I’ll be adding to the goal from the other night.”

Sears has no complaints and the backing he has received from McCarthy, who signed him from Colchester in January last year and recently emphasised he had never considered leaving him out during his 38-game spell without scoring, has been very important to him.

He added: “That gives you confidence. The gaffer’s been brilliant with me ever since I walked through the door after he brought me here almost two years ago.

“There have been times when I’ve played well and other occasions when I haven’t played well but he has kept picking me. He knew the goal would eventually come and I’ve got to start repaying the faith he has shown in me.”

Sears was asked if he was surprised at not being left out of the side and replied: “Not really, but there were times when I was thinking ‘Where am I going to play?’ One minute I’m on the right, then the left, then the centre and you even start wondering if you’re going to be on the bench.

“Sometimes we would lose and I’d think I might be left out for the next one. But the gaffer has gone on record as saying I bring something different to the team and if you asked most of the boys in the dressing room they would agree I bring a lot to the team as well.

“Whether you notice it or not I think your confidence naturally fluctuates depending on how you are doing.

“Some games you play well and in others you can be below your best but when you’re not scoring you can imagine people saying your confidence is low.

“I know I wasn’t setting the world alight but at the same time I thought I was doing alright.

“It’s a different job playing wide and I’ve not really been used to it over the years. I came here as a centre-forward and even in my time at Colchester I was a sort of lazy winger.

“The gaffer won’t let you get away with that here — you’ve got to work a lot harder and you’re helping your full-back out.

“It’s been good and I look at that side of the game and think I’ve had a real good go.

“I don’t think anyone who watches the games can say I don’t try hard or that I don’t put myself about. I’m happy with that but I’d obviously love to be playing as a centre-forward.”

Photo: TWTD

muccletonjoe added 08:11 - Oct 21 Very few people would question sears effort on the pitch. The fact he has spent most of the year playing out of his preferred position says alot about him as a player
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midastouch added 09:32 - Oct 21 Would love to see Freddie return to his preferred role up top. He looked such a threat when we first signed him. I couldn't get over how we'd snapped him up for just 100k! If he could return to that same form we'd all be smiling! :-)
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BackTheBlues added 10:52 - Oct 21 There's never been a question of his effort and work rate, but his ability of the last few months has definitely been questioned... I wanted him brought off Tuesday night before he scored, because he was utterly abysmal! But I'm really pleased Freddie got his goal - I really hope he pushes on now!
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Beattiesballbag added 11:11 - Oct 21 midastouch There's nothing wrong with his form, you can't expect someone to score many goals when there first priority is defensive duties! The pigheaded boring hopefully soon to be extinct billy bullsh#;^er confirmed freddies duties on the radio after the burton game when he said that "he was making sure they didn't catch us on the break & timed his run well to score his goal" ! What chance have we got of ever returning to an entertaining team that scores more goals than most in the league when you play with 10 defenders ! Untill now all our forwards over the last 50 years have helped out in defence but their first priority was to score goals. Hopefully it won't be to long before our forwards are allowed to do what their best at.

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jocasaja added 11:38 - Oct 21 I really think that if we went 442 with Best and Sears up top that we would be a better team and a better team to watch ...COYB
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midastouch added 11:41 - Oct 21 It's only when he has been asked to occasionally play up front this season (which sadly hasn't been as much as we'd like) he just hasn't looked the same threat as he did when we first signed him. But of course that's probably because he hasn't done it for so long he's out of step with it compared to when he played there week in and week out. Also, being up front this season for any of our strikers has been hard work (look at Pitman) as there has been so little service provided due to our defensive style of play, as masterminded (or not for that matter!) by Mick Almighty.

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MathieandMarshall added 12:33 - Oct 21 the Sears situation is actually my biggest problem with MM. He signed a pacy striker who burst into the team scoring goals and looking a real threat and then played him out of position for so long that his confidence in front of goal looks shot to bits. Really hope his goal Tuesday is a turning point
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