Currie: Moore Not Just a Target Man - Ipswich Town News

Former Blues winger Darren Currie says new Town striker Kieffer Moore is not just a target man and believes the ex-Forest Green Rovers frontman is “a real handful”. Moore, 24, joined the Blues on an 18-month deal on Saturday, the Blues having agreed a fee believed to be £10,000 with Forest Green.

Currie, 42, is these days the assistant manager of Dagenham and Redbridge, who are currently fourth in the Vanarama National League, the same division in which Forest Green and Moore’s recent loan club Torquay United play.

"He’s a big target man, a real handful,” Currie told Saturday’s Life’s a Pitch on BBC Radio Suffolk (1hr 52mins here) ahead of the Blues’ 3-2 victory over Blackburn.

"Quite mobile for a big lad as well, he’s 6ft 5 and at [National League] level and the way Forest Green play, they’re a decent footballing side, he’s not just a big target man that people bang it up to and get around.

"He’s a clever enough footballer for a big man. I think he had a spell out on loan at Torquay as well and went and got some goals there.

"He’s one of many prospects at that level, there are a lot of good players in the National League. Obviously Kieffer’s getting some attention at the minute but there are many out there that are getting attention.”

Currie nets on his Town debut in the 4-2 win at QPR - the club he supported as a boy - in December 2004

Among those other players being looked at by clubs at a higher level are 24-year-old Daggers striker Oliver Hawkins, who has been mentioned in connection with the Blues, Nottingham Forest, Rotherham, Brighton and League One Swindon during this transfer window.

"Oliver’s very similar to Kieffer Moore, obviously I’m going to be biased and say Oliver’s better!” Currie added.

"He’s another one that for a big man is good on the floor, very mobile for a big man, he’s got goals. He’s filled in at centre-half for us once or twice and he’s looked very comfortable there as well.

"He’s a great kid to work with, very humble boy, came from Hemel Hempstead, so his roots are very good and he’s gathering interest as well because he’s been playing very well.”

Currie believes there’s plenty of talent in non-league: "There’s loads, you’ve just got to get out there and keep watching them.

"We’ve probably taken four or five from even below us and you’ve just got to give them a platform every now and then to perform, stick by them, you polish them up and sell them on.

"This is part of recruitment nowadays. You’ve got to get out, you’ve got to cover all parts of the country, all leagues, all levels of the pyramid. There are players out there and if you look hard enough you’ll find them.”

The much-travelled wideman says he's still very much a novice in his current role: "This is my fourth season now and I’m really enjoying it. I’m still a YTS in that respect, still learning my trade and really enjoying it, but there’s nothing better than waking up every morning and being on the training pitch.”

Currie, who was at Portman Road earlier in the season to run the rule over the U23s, made 69 starts and 20 sub appearances for the Blues between December 2004 and July 2007, scoring nine goals, and thoroughly enjoyed his time at the club.

"I loved it, it’s a great place, my only regret in football is that I wasn’t here longer and been here from a younger age and grown up through the club,” he said "It’s a fantastic place and I love coming back.”

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