Blues boss Mick McCarthy says striker Tom Lawrence was playing “brilliantly” before his enforced two-game break and will be looking to quickly get back to that level when he returns to the Town side for Saturday’s home game against Brentford. However, McCarthy believes his side is no longer quite so reliant on the 23-year-old on-loan Leicester man.

Lawrence missed the Leeds and Norwich matches having picked up his 10th booking of the season in the Brighton game but has used his time out to get over an ankle problem which had hampered him since the 3-0 home defeat to Derby when he was subbed at half-time.

“Tom’s just had a bit of a problem with his ankle so he’s had to take care of that, but he’s trained today and he’s looked good,” McCarthy said.

“I’m sure he’s desperate to play. He was playing brilliantly, wasn’t he? He’ll want to get back to that level.”

The Town manager admits the Blues relied too much on Lawrence’s goals prior to his absence but believes his resurgent side, who went through their tough February unbeaten claiming seven points, are now far more than a one-man team.

“His goals were carrying us, there’s no doubt about that because he was the only one scoring,” he reflected.

“But Freddie Sears looks better having had a break from it, he’s come in and I think anybody playing up front with Didzy at the minute would benefit from him because he’s been excellent.”

Meanwhile, McCarthy has reiterated that midfielder Teddy Bishop has to show him he’s worth a place in his side, once the 20-year-old is over a slight injury problem which will keep him out of Saturday’s match.

“He’s just got a bit of a tight groin at the minute, so he’s not available. He may well train on Friday,” he said.

“He’s got to get in the team. I was asked about how players responded that weren’t in the team or were in the team or in the squad.

“I think they’ve all got to ask themselves, everybody that was here, I was asking myself, ‘What am I doing? How can we get results? What have I contributed to the team in terms of creating goals, scoring goals?’. This is everybody before we’ve had this turnaround.

“And Bish is one of those. Has he scored one? Has he created one? Kev Bru, Dougie had [one in the net, which would would have been brilliant, against Norwich which was disallowed]. Tom Lawrence’s goals were carrying us.

“So Bish has got to get in the team, he’s got to get back in it, and it's only him that can do that. I love him as a kid and a player, but he’s got to get in the team.”

McCarthy says another of his strikers, on-loan Reading frontman Dominic Samuel, is having to be patient while he waits to make his Blues debut.

“He’s repairing his broken toe,” the Town boss added. “That’s one of those injuries you can’t rush, it’ll be ready when it’s ready. I think he’ll be out doing some work next week.”

Photo: Action Images

SandyBrown added 12:36 - Mar 2 McGoldrick spends so much time playing deep to collect the ball, why not play him in midfield alongside two others and give Moore a run up front. Need to see if he is up to it before the end of the season. I do not see any of the loan players being with us next season. Interesting times ahead!
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jjhbruno added 13:26 - Mar 2 Funny how you know exactly what Mick is upto Kesgrave. You should apply to be the clubs Spokesperson so you can explain all to us.
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Taricco_Fan added 18:52 - Mar 2 We're considerably better with Lawrence. Just look at the Norwich game - we had little attacking outlet without Lawrence's pace and trickery.
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blueboy1981 added 19:28 - Mar 2 ....... absolute bullsh-te McCarthy - we had NOTHING at Norwich without him.
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blueboy1981 added 19:36 - Mar 2 ....... Skusey and Dougie ........ get used to it guys the Dino will never change - if at all possible they will always be the first names on the team sheet, and forever be his favourite blokes. What a joke this man is - and certainly past his best, with the game having sadly left him way behind.
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cat added 20:38 - Mar 2 Blueboy81 - you can go back as far as "dear old Tabby" for the emergence of the "favourites". Your right fella, this DINO ain't for changing, OH.... unless he has his hand forced AGAIN!!!!!!
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cobboldblue added 20:50 - Mar 2 weevil - agree with you, I'd say Pitman is the closest to a natural goal scorer in the box but who do you leave out to play him? Sears?
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Geddis78 added 21:24 - Mar 2 As ever, so much negativity. There are many sides below us who have spent loads more money. We have recently competed against Reading, Norwich, Leeds & Brighton and played ok football. All these teams have better budgets than us and far more 'star' players. Love him or hate him, the fact, and it is a fact, McCarthy has done brilliantly to keep us competitive and in the Championship. All those who think we should be competing for the Premier League with this squad are deluded and on a different planet. Mourinho etc couldn't get us up with this team.

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frantblue added 21:38 - Mar 2 So was the yellow V Brighton to cover for the bad ankle?? Gets out anyway may as well get suspension done with too?? Our club needs nota new team manager but a new management system above him o e which will support with cash and also support our fans with good football
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cat added 21:49 - Mar 2 Geddis78- good post, fair play to you. Maybe I set the bar to high and with that the disappointment and negativity comes out. Assuming you attend games, (which is nether here or there as far as I'm concerned) can you say that you honestly enjoy them???, I don't, yes I get up for the game when I book the tickets and all the usual nostalgia from many years of attending PR comes out, then after so long I'm sitting there wondering what the feck am I doing. You mention the good football recently, from what I've seen there's been pockets of pass and move play but hoofball is still there, if you still ain't getting that, listen to the opposition fans shouting hoof on a regular basis. MM is ripping the sole out of the club for all the reasons I usually give, and I ain't happy about that. Rant over!!😁

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Geddis78 added 22:18 - Mar 2 Cat, yep, the football has been terrible at times. However, I do empathise with McCarthy when your best ball player is Bru. There have been games where the squad has been so poor, we have to play long ball to keep in the game. You clearly have a good understanding of the game and will appreciate you have to have the players to play the type of football you crave. He got in Lawrence. Assume he ticks your boxes. He plays McGoldrick when fit. Again, a player we love to watch. He brought in Williams. A great footballer but always injured. He is desperate for Bishop to come through but he has not stepped up. Yes, I have been to every home game this year. Only Fulham and perhaps Derby play in the style you advocate. This is the Championship, home of attritional football. Fine lines divide success and failure. This is a well run club with an owner who spends his money as you and I would, i.e., wisely. And a manager who does the best he can with what he has. Tomorrow, I am going to The Dove to see Wark and Osborne. We can all talk about and reminisce on the good old days, but those have gone and will never come back. We are a Championship team with a chance of the play offs now and again. I have accepted this. I wish the rest of us could.

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cat added 23:09 - Mar 2 Geddis78, sound post again. I feel the team which has pretty much been assembled by MM, plays to his style, not us adapting to championship football or playing long balls to survive, after all his been playing that way for 25 years. I'm not blinded to the point where I won't give MM credit for saving us his first season, the top 6 finish, or the good signings his made, but my respect for him (for numerous reasons) have been severed beyond the point of no return. I am under no illusions that the glory days will return, corporate football is here now and major honours are simply beyond teams like us, but there's no reason IMO why we should not compete for the prem with the right personnel in place. I am happy with the board, I can understand why ME is controlling the purse string as MM's predecessors spunked a lot of his millions up the wall. There are also positives about a chairman who minds his own, does not interfere with team affairs and keeps us stable and sustainable. You must be diehard attending tomorrow's event, hope Roger don't feint!, remember it well.

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yorksblue added 07:19 - Mar 3 I shudder to think where we'd be without TL. Can't we extend loan for another season? We must also get rid of all the sicknote squad players. I read about Coke. I'd add Hyam and Bishop to that. They are liabilities we can't afford to carry each season, especially with little or no budget for replacements.
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