Mick McCarthy says the search for more midfield goals was behind the switch which saw Ryan Tunnicliffe move to central midfield in place of Luke Hyam during last Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Leicester City.
So far, the only goals from midfield this season are Paul Anderson’s two — although the one which went against his name against Millwall probably should have been an own goal — and Jay Tabb’s strike on the opening day at his old club Reading, all while playing in wide rather than central roles.
McCarthy is well aware that Tunnicliffe, Hyam and Cole Skuse are all still to open their accounts for the season.
"I just mixed it up and I wanted to see Tunners on the inside and I wanted to get goals from the middle of the park, from midfield areas,” he said.
"That’s something that we’ve got to try and improve on. I thought Tunners did well playing in there. That’s his position and I don’t think that anybody should just feel that their position is absolutely nailed on.”
McCarthy wants his midfielders to bring hard graft and a creative spark to his side: "I want them to do both. They all work hard, there’s not one of them that doesn’t do that because if they don’t they don’t play in the team, unless they score me 25 goals, then I might put up with them.
"But that’s not likely to happen, so in the meantime they’re all going to have to run around and work hard.
"It was just to change it around and I don’t think it had any detrimental effect. I looked at his stats and Tunners ran more than anybody in the game and actually had the biggest passing percentage. His performance was OK.
"I’m just looking to get goals, somebody’s going to have to provide me with them or they might find themselves out of the team.”
He believes Hyam - who is a doubt for today's game at Charlton with a stiff back - is capable of playing a more attacking role despite being pigeon-holed as an out and out defensive midfield player under Roy Keane and Paul Jewell: "I think other people had labelled him [as a holding midfielder]. We asked him to get further forward and try and be a bit more offensive, and he has.
"I tried something different, I’m not going to sit here and give you a reason and explain it because I just changed it.”
The addition of Aston Villa youngster is also aimed at increasing Town’s threat from midfield, McCarthy feeling that the 18-year-old is a different type of player to those currently at his disposal: "I like Ando, but Ando tucks in. Carlos is good, he does great defensive work, as does Hunty and Tabby.
"He’s just a young one who might just spark something off for us, that’s what I’m looking for. Who knows? We’ll wait and see. Let’s hope he does.”