Blues boss Kieran McKenna says three-goal striker Liam Delap has made a very good start to life in the Premier League but that the England U21 international knows that it’s only a handful of games and there is still a long road ahead.
Delap, 21, joined Town for £15 million plus a further £5 million in add-ons in the summer from Manchester City and his hit the ground running, netting three goals in his first six Premier League matches for the Blues, having previously made two sub appearances for City in the top flight.
The one-time Derby County academy schoolboy’s two goals, especially his excellent second, against Aston Villa last Sunday saw him make the back pages and several pundits’ and website’s select XIs last weekend.
"Liam has had a very good start,” McKenna said. ‘He obviously impressed us when he was [on loan] at Hull for us to sign him – and I’m sure some others.
"He is a young striker, who has had three loans in the Championship and he is still finding his way in the game.
"His body has developed a lot over the last 12 months, which I think is important for a forward player playing in the physicality of the Premier League and even in the Championship. He is developing well.
"He arrived in pre-season and hadn’t had a completely clear off-season and end of season as he had an injury in the second half of last season with Hull, so it took him a bit of time over pre-season.
"I think the demands we place on players here are higher than they usually experience at other clubs, so it took him a little while to adapt to the intensity of training and intensity of our playing style.
"But he has really committed himself well to that process and he is working very well and working very well with the staff. He’s a popular member of the group.
"For 21 years of age, the start he has had in the Premier League is really promising. But it is a handful of games and he knows there is still a long road ahead of him and lots of things to still improve on. But he has made some really good first strides.”