Jay Emmanuel-Thomas needs to do a little bit more before he will win back his place in the Town side, according to assistant manager Terry Connor. The 22-year-old’s only start since Mick McCarthy took over as boss came in the 2-1 FA Cup defeat at Aston Villa last month.
Connor says there’s no problem with the former Arsenal man’s attitude: "I don’t think he’s missed a day’s training, Jay. He’s out there training every day, every training session trying to do his best.
"It’s about competition for places and if Jay wants to play in the first team he’s got to do a little bit more in his training and when he gets his time on the pitch to show that he’s worth a place in the team.
"But that goes for all players, not just Jay, every player has got to show that he’s ready for duty.”
Former striker Connor says he’s aware that players will say they can’t impress unless they’re given an opportunity: "Players will always say they need time on the pitch to show what they can do but we look at it the other way; that you have to earn that place, earn that right to be in the team.
"Although Jay has worked hard and isn’t a minute’s problem, he hasn’t quite done enough to force himself into the starting XI. When he does that, he’ll be considered like everybody else.”
He says it's a case of grafting in his training sessions at Playford Road for Emmanuel-Thomas and the rest of the squad: "There’s no magic there, there’s the capacity for hard work and for going on to the training pitch and trying not only to improve weaknesses but to improve strengths.
"I think the lads will tell you that we work as much on strengths as we do on their weaknesses. But there’s nothing that you can do other than go out there and work hard every day consistently. That’s the message to all players.”