Boss Mick McCarthy says striker David McGoldrick “wants to come back flying” after missing much of the second half of last season through injury. The Town manager believes 2015/16 is a big season for the Republic of Ireland international.
The 27-year-old returned to match action as a late sub in the play-off semi-final second leg at Norwich having been out of action since February with a troublesome thigh injury sustained in the defeat at Rotherham.
He subsequently joined up with the Irish squad for their June fixtures and won his second full cap when he played the first half of the 0-0 friendly draw with England in Dublin, having also featured for 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors training game against Northern Ireland, which also ended goalless.
Like Ireland team-mate Daryl Murphy and Scotland’s Christophe Berra, McGoldrick, who netted seven times last season, having scored 13 in the previous campaign, has been given an additional two weeks off.
"Didz missed out through injury at the end of two seasons,” McCarthy said. "He was the top player the season before last and last season he played very well until he got injured unfortunately.
"He overshadowed Murph the year before then Murph did him last season before he got injured.
"It is a big season for him and he knows that. We spoke about it at the end of the season and he wants to come back flying.
"He’s having a couple of extra weeks off because he was involved with the Republic of Ireland.
"Hopefully if he stays injury free, his season will be great, not a problem at all. He’s a top player.”
McGoldrick, who joined the Blues from Nottingham Forest, initially on loan, in January 2013, is entering the final year of his Town contract.