Manager Mick McCarthy believes winger Paul Anderson is adjusting well to playing a new role with the Blues. The 25-year-old, part of a summer swap deal which saw Jay Emmanuel-Thomas move to Bristol City, has tended to play wider at his previous clubs but McCarthy has asked him to occupy a more tucked in right-sided position.
The Town boss says he thought Anderson had a good game against Middlesbrough, even if he didn’t have too much possession.
"I’m not so sure he thought he played well on Saturday because he didn’t have too much of the ball,” he said.
"But he’s restricted George Friend quite a lot of the time and he’s probably one of the most attacking full-backs in the league.
"He got in the box playing narrower and actually attracted their centre-half and George Friend when Chambo scored his header at the far post, just by being in there, attracted them to him and distracted them.
"He’s having to tuck in and play narrower because that’s the way I play. If you can get wide and get at them, I’d also like that, but when we are as a unit we stay together and we’re solid.
"I certainly think he’s found it different. He likes to be on the outside looking back, wanting to run forward.
"I have him on this side looking out and if we get it back, then he can go forward. A little different from how he’s used to playing, but I think he’s done it very well.”
McCarthy says he sounded out some of Anderson’s former team-mates before doing the deal: "I’d seen him play and I liked him and I wanted to sign him.
"I spoke to Didsy and Chambo, who had both played with him at Nottingham Forest, and they both said to me what a great lad he was and hard worker.
"‘Will he do his shift? Will he get up and down, get back and do all the dirty jobs?’. The answer was yes, and he’s proved that. And then he’s got that nice ability, he can play.
"He can play on the inside, some wingers can’t do that, the quick ones. Some can be quick and thick and can’t do anything else.
"He can come and play on the inside, he’s a good footballer. But he’s also got that bit of pace so he can take you on down the outside.”