Blues striker Aaron Drinan hopes his form with loan side Waterford in the League of Ireland Premier Division will put him in manager Paul Lambert’s thoughts ahead of Town’s League One campaign.
Drinan, 20, rejoined his former club in February ahead of the Irish season and he is currently the joint-top scorer in the Irish top flight with five goals from 11 games.
Town’s U23s coaches Gerard Nash and Chris Hogg have kept an eye on his progress watching footage of his games and then reporting back to boss Lambert.
Drinan, who last month won his first Ireland U21 cap as a late sub in a 3-0 victory over Luxembourg, hopes that continuing his current form will catch his manager’s eye ahead of his return to the Blues at the end of July.
"That's the plan,” he told the Irish Sun. "When Mick [McCarthy] left I wasn't really much around the first team squad.
"Even though I was still scoring over there it was a bit of a tough time. All that matters is first team experience rather than scoring for the 23s, so coming back for half a season here definitely benefits me more.
"It gives something for the gaffer to think about if I'm scoring over here because obviously they've got relegated. It will be good if I keep the run going.”
The Waterford management have encouraged the striker, who is contracted to Town until the summer of 2021, having signed in January last year, to play more centrally and to get into the box more often.
"That's what they're telling me and that's where goals are scored, I suppose, and since they've said that I've been scoring," he added. "I'll try to score as many as I can before I leave."