Boss Mick McCarthy believes hard work and momentum are behind Daryl Murphy’s transformation from a “10-goals-a-season man” into a player who seems set to become the first Town player to net 20 league goals since David Johnson grabbed 22 back in the 1999/00 promotion campaign.
Murphy, 31, took his total to 19 with his flicked header from Freddie Sears’s cross during Tuesday’s 2-1 home victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
Asked what was behind Ireland international Murphy’s remarkable campaign, McCarthy joked: "Wonderful management and coaching! If you believe that, you believe anything.
"Murph signed his contract, he’s got a number nine on his back and, actually, he played well last year.
"Where does momentum come from? Goals, because David McGoldrick was the goalscorer last year, everything he touched turned to goals. This year he’s had a bit of frustration that it hasn’t worked for him.”
McCarthy again paid tribute to his assistant Terry Connor’s work with the Irishman on the training field.
"Murph works at it, he works regularly with TC,” he added. "Friday mornings, he puts his finishing sessions in after training and he’s reaping his rewards through working hard at it.
"He’s always been a good player, everyone’s recognised that, he’s always been a threat, he’s always been good in the air and strong and quick. He’s been a 10-goals-a-season man. What is he, 19 this season? He’s worked hard at it.”
Since Johnson's 1999/00 22-league-goal haul Shefki Kuqi and Darren Bent came closest to reaching 20 when they both netted 19 times during the Blues' 2004/05 Championship season.
Kuqi eventually added another in the play-offs as the Blues lost out to West Ham, while Bent was initially credited with a 20th goal in the early season game against Wolves before it was officially recorded as a Jody Craddock own goal.