Boss Mick McCarthy was pleased with new signing Paul Anderson’s first performance in a Town shirt at Crawley on Wednesday. The former Bristol City man created Daryl Murphy’s goal in the Blues’ 2-1 victory over the League One side.
McCarthy says he was delighted to have added the 24-year-old to his squad: "Very much so. He can play both wings. I thought he started really well, created the goal for us as well.
"He drifts down the middle and is a handful when he does that. He’s a clever player. Pleased with him, really delighted to get another one in.”
The Blues boss has been an admirer of Anderson since before he moved from Hull City to Liverpool in January 2006 when only 17 years old: "We’ve looked at him before, but then, of course, he’s been at Nottingham Forest since and ended up at Bristol City.
"He’s somebody I’ve always liked. It was his first game for us, but I’m pleased with him.”
McCarthy says it wasn’t a difficult decision to allow Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to move to Bristol City as part of the same deal, but admits that the 22-year-old could make him regret doing so: "I made him available at the end of the season, so it was hardly a difficult one.
"I wish him well, I thought it was a good swap for me, a winger that plays like Paul Anderson, and I just don’t think Jay’s fulfilled all his potential at our place.
"He’s one of them, it’s always scary letting somebody like him go because he might [fulfil his potential] elsewhere. We’ll see.”