Don’t talk to Frank Nouble about ifs, buts and maybes because the Town striker prefers to deals in what’s what.

This weekend would appear to offer Nouble and his team-mates an outstanding opportunity to strengthen their challenge for a play-off place.

Brighton and Reading, the two teams immediately above Town in the Championship, meet on the south coast today and sixth-placed Wigan, four points better off than Town in ninth, will be in FA Cup action at Manchester City on Sunday.

It is therefore possible that Town could be just one point adrift of the top six if they can bag all three points against Middlesbrough at the Riverside.

But Nouble tends not to ponder for long on what might happen, explaining: “You can only look at the results after the game. Beforehand, all our focus is on going to Middlesbrough and winning and only after our game is over can we look at what has happened elsewhere and how it affects us.

“We try not to think beyond our own game and trying to make sure we win it. We don’t want to reach the end of the season and be in the middle of the table but if we have given everything and it’s not good enough then so be it.

"We don’t want to hold back and have any regrets so from one game to the nex we will be giving it absolutely everything.”

When it comes to the system deployed by boss Mick McCarthy, striker Nouble has no preference and says his own role remains much the same.

He added: “If we’re playing 4-4-2 the strikers tend to stay up more and push on to the back four but in a 4-3-3 formation the wide men spend a lot of time tracking back with the opposition’s full-backs, so you have to play up and down like we did last weekend against Birmingham.

“I enjoy playing in a three but there’s not that much difference. Most of my career I’ve played wide but growing up I played through the middle. I’ve always been an attacking player but running back to help defensively isn’t something I’m shy about doing.

“David McGoldrick has done really well for us since coming to the club — he’s got most of our goals — but for me it’s about working at my game and looking to get better in all areas.

“If I can nick a few more goals it will be brilliant. I do a lot of stuff off the ball and it doesn’t faze me what people say, so long as I’m doing a good job for the team.

“Sometimes it seems to be all about who scored or who put the cross in and a lot of the other stuff gets overlooked, although not by the people who matter most, the manager and his staff.”

Photo: Action Images

LiamCP123 added 09:38 - Mar 8 Got a feeling, Frank will score a 20 yard screamer today.
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karls_dad added 10:39 - Mar 8 That is if he manages to get his boots on the right feet, Now listen carefully Frank, The boot with the big L on it goes on your left foot! Some may say i,m not his biggest fan!
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