Manager Mick McCarthy says striker Frank Nouble has thrived in the three-man strike force he has employed in recent games. The 22-year-old, signed from Wolves for a bargain £25,000 a year ago, has started six of Town’s last seven games.
Fans have been impressed with the former Chelsea and West Ham man''s workrate, which McCarthy is delighted to hear: "He has to do that, that’s expected every week, then if you can play well with the ball, that’s a bonus.
"I think he’s thrived in playing the way we’ve played, Big Frank. He’s not had a lot of football. He’s been one of those lads, I think people have seen something in him, taken him [on loan] and then thought ‘Hmm, maybe not’ and sent him back. He’s had more loans than Wonga, but he’s settled down now.
"I wanted to sign him at Wolves. We talked about him and when I left TC signed him and I think they’ve got a good bond between them and TC certainly gets the best out of him on the training ground.
"And he’s improving. He’s a young fella, he’s only a young man. You see this young, powerful athletic fella and expect [too much of him], he looks beyond his years, but he’s just a young fella learning his trade and he’s now getting worked and coached and nurtured and is playing in a team and is feeling better.
"It’s only a few weeks ago I chewed his ears off, it’s not that long ago he nearly didn’t play for having a face on because he wasn’t in the team.”
He says Nouble, who has scored twice so far this season, has needed regular first team football: "You can coach them all you like but they have to play and they pick it up.
"I remember some of the most valuable lessons I learned weren’t somebody talking to me on the coaching ground, it was when it happened to me on the pitch and afterwards you’ve asked and they’ve said 'This is what you needed to do, that was what you needed to do', and you don’t let it happen again.
"Should I have got across the man? Should I have gone in behind? What’s my movement? I think you pick it up from playing. You’ve got to play.
"Jack Marriott will be a better player for playing down at Woking. I’m glad Frank’s being appreciated because he does work hard.”