Town boss Mick McCarthy says it’s lovely to have David McGoldrick available again with the striker set to return to the first-team squad at Newcastle on Saturday.
McGoldrick, who has been out since August having ruptured ankle ligaments in the EFL Cup defeat to Stevenage, returned to match action as the U23s drew 2-2 at Colchester on Tuesday and got on the scoresheet within 90 seconds.
"Of all things he scored a header,” McCarthy said. "And he made the other one with a shot [which hit the post], which Shane McLoughlin scored.
"It’s lovely to have him back and he’ll be in the squad, he’s travelling for Saturday’s game.”
Meanwhile, McCarthy says he’s been pleased with McGoldrick’s close friend and former Southampton team-mate Leon Best, who will be looking to open his Town goals account at St James’ Park when he faces another of his old clubs.
The Town boss feels the 30-year-old, who effectively replaced Daryl Murphy after he joined Newcastle in August, is looking sharper with every game and might have netted against Burton Albion.
"He’s got undoubted ability, there’s no doubt about that,” McCarthy said. "I spoke to [Best’s former Rotherham manager] Neil Warnock, he’s a mate of mine and I know he’s of a similar ilk and he’s not going to give me any BS, he’s going to tell me straight.
"And, I think he said that for what was around after we’d sold Murph, after Murph had gone, he was the best I was going to get, no pun intended.
"On a free transfer, he’s big and powerful, he’s quick, he’s got a bit about him. I think if he’d had more games he’d have probably scored on Tuesday.”