Lambert: Dawkins Can Make Things Happen in Final Third - Ipswich Town News

Blues manager Paul Lambert believes Simon Dawkins can make things happen in the final third of the pitch, the winger having signed a short-term deal after a trial yesterday.

The 31-year-old, who previously played for Lambert during a loan spell at Aston Villa, has been on trial with Town for five weeks and impressed for the U23s as they beat Charlton 4-2 on Monday.

However, that display was unlikely to have been a significant factor in the former Spurs trainee, who left MLS side the San Jose Earthquakes in February last year, winning his deal which runs to the end of the season with the club having an option for a further year.

"I don’t think you can ever compare U23 football with first team level football,” the Town boss said.

"I don’t think it’s real football the U23s. I think the first team level is totally different from it.

"I think Simon’s done really well, he was training with us for over a month, he’s done really well.

"He’s somebody I know really well and he can make things happen in the last third of the pitch, where we’ve not been good enough to cut people down. I think he’ll do well, Simon.”

Asked whether he was disappointed to miss out on another winger, Cardiff’s Anthony Pilkington, who opted to move to Wigan which is closer to his family home in the North West, despite Town offering a better financial package, Lambert responded: "That’s football. Move on, next one. That’s football.”

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