Blues boss Paul Hurst was pleased with striker Freddie Sears’s contribution playing as the number 10 during Tuesday’s 1-0 win away against the MK Dons, the former West Ham man having netted the game’s only goal from the penalty spot, but believes he should show more confidence when in more threatening areas.
"I think Freddie did well, his movement’s good, he’s clever,” Hurst said when asked what he made of the 28-year-old in the unfamiliar role. "He’s probably one of those players I feel I will be on at. He took his penalty very well.
"But he gets in certain positions and I just want him to believe in himself. Sometimes he does ever-so-well to get in an area and then I just feel that perhaps he could have a little bit more confidence, self-belief for that end product that you’re looking for.”
Sears, who faces the Hammers, the club he supports and where he played as a youngster in tomorrow's friendly at Portman Road, went 38 games without a goal before netting a goal in each of the final two games of last season.
"I think here he probably hasn’t scored too many goals but I don’t really see why he can't add that to his game,” Hurst reflected. "I watch him on the training pitch, again sometimes it’s just believing in yourself, taking that chance.
"He’s a very unselfish player, he does a lot of work for the team, which I admire, but at the same time when he gets in areas have that confidence to either take that shot on or maybe drive at the man and try and force a mistake.”