Striker David McGoldrick dedicated his two goals to team-mate Andre Dozzell, who has been ruled out for nine months with a torn cruciate knee ligament, following the Blues’ 2-0 Carabao Cup victory at Luton.
Dozzell, 18, was stretchered off just before half-time during Saturday’s 1-0 home win against Birmingham with a scan on Monday confirming the extent of the injury.
"I took Andre home after the game on Saturday, I’m close to his dad and I’m really gutted for him,” McGoldrick said.
"That’s a sour thought after the game, so I dedicate those two goals to Andre, I wish him a speedy recovery. He’s a lovely lad, he’s got a great family around him.
"I spoke to him late at night on Saturday and just let him know he will play in the Premier League, it’s only a small stumbling block. He’ll come back stronger and he’ll have a fantastic career, I know that. I just wish him all the best.”
McGoldrick, an unused sub in the Birmingham game, was delighted to get his season up and running by scoring the goals which took the Blues into Thursday’s second round Carabao Cup draw.
"That’s my job, I’m a striker, I’m here to score goals,” he said. "The team rely on me, the team have got all the confidence in me and that’s what I’m paid to do.
"It was a great team performance and it was great individually to score the two goals to win the game.”
He was pleased with his finishes, the first in the 34th minute from a Bersant Celina pass and the second when cutting in from the right in injury time.
"We do them all the time in training, movement around the defenders,” he added. "Especially the last one, we do it a couple of times a week, coming inside and going outside and getting a shot across the goalkeeper and this time it’s paid off.”
McGoldrick says manager Mick McCarthy impressed upon his players that Luton, who beat Yeovil 8-2 on Saturday, couldn’t be treated lightly.
"The gaffer said after the game on Saturday, he saw the result and he mentioned in the dressing room that it was going to be a tough game,” the Blues number 10 continued.
"Everyone was pumped up for Saturday and the gaffer made sure we were pumped up for today as well because obviously they won 8-2 and it’s a tough place to come and we had a few injuries so a few young lads had to step in and I thought we were fantastic.”
It was a very different performance from last year’s game at the same stage of the competition when McGoldrick suffered an ankle injury as the Blues were defeated 1-0 by Stevenage at Portman Road.
"A big difference," the striker agreed. "There's a lot of confidence in the team. We knew that last year wasn’t acceptable, not just the results but the performances.
"We’ve worked hard in pre-season, we’re trying new things and it’s still clicking but we’re coming together, there’s a lot of confidence in the team and we’re trying to play a bit more football.”
He added: "Me and the captain were talking about how good it is out there. Last season, when we were out there, it wasn’t enjoyable, we don’t like getting booed off the pitch. We don’t like all that.
"But today I think the fans were fantastic and we like giving them something to [shout about], better football. We said we were going to try to do that and I think we’re doing it. I think we were much better Saturday and it was just as good today.”
Young midfield pair Flynn Downes, who was making his first start, and Tristan Nydam, who was making his first-team debut, were praised by their manager after the game and McGoldrick was also impressed with their displays.
"They were very good, they’ve come through today,” he said. "It’s a tough place to come, Luton. I’ve been here when I was young and it was very hard, but they stood up like men that’s the main thing and they had quality.
"Flynn Downes was fantastic and so was Tristan, so it was fantastic to see them get a game and hopefully they’ll get more.”
He was pleased with the way he linked up with on-loan Manchester City man Celina, who was making his debut for the Blues.
"Me and Bersant were told we were going to play up front together on Saturday and on Sunday and Monday we’ve been doing a lot of work together.
"Bersant’s a clever player. He likes to drop to deep, I like to drop deep as well but I knew he was more of a ‘midfieldery' striker so I let him drop deep more and you could see his quality with the ball that he gave me for the goal in the first half. He’s got that about him.
"We’ve missed that in certain seasons, so he’ll be a great addition to our team.
Having scored twice against the Hatters does he expect to start at Barnsley on Saturday? "You’ll have to ask the big man about that! We won Saturday so I’m not expecting to go straight back in the team. I’m old enough and wise enough to know that we won and why would he change the team?”
"I’m fighting a cause, I’ll always fight my cause to play and I’m happy to give him a headache. I like to give the gaffer a headache and I’ve given him one.”
The addition of Martyn Waghorn from Rangers yesterday has added to McCarthy's options up front.
"There is a lot of competition but every player will say he likes competition," McGoldrick reflected. "I back myself in any team and any strikers that come in I’m going back myself to play and score goals.
"It was good to see Waggy come on today, he hasn’t trained with us, he just met up with us yesterday and travelled today, and he was fantastic when he came on. He’ll be a good option, he’s different to everyone else. We’re all fighting for our places.
"That might have driven me on today, knowing another striker’s come in. When a manager brings a striker in he’s not bringing him in just to chill about, he’s coming in to play so I know I’ve got step up my game, I know I’ve got to score goals and give a good account of myself.
"I played with Joe Garner years ago at Forest, I know what he’s about. The gaffer’s asked me about him loads of times and I’ve always told him that he’s the gaffer’s type of player.
"I read the thing about the gaffer saying he’s old school. He is old school but he’s got quality as well. He’s goalscorer, he’ll get the tap-ins, the scruffy goals, he’s great in the air and he’s a great addition.”
"We’ve got four strikers and I think all four of us are different. It’s tough but that’s football.”