Town boss Mick McCarthy says striker Freddie Sears has proved to be an even better player than he thought he was when he signed him from Colchester United in January.

The 25-year-old has scored 13 goals in 30 starts and nine sub appearances since that £100,000 switch, and is joint top scorer this season with four goals along with Brett Pitman and Ryan Fraser.

“Without a doubt with Freddie,” McCarthy said when asked whether the one-time West Ham youngster is better player than he thought he was. “He’s far harder working.

“I didn’t know him as a pro but he’s a really top pro, he just gets on with it, he’s very selfless in how he does it.

“I saw he said he’d play anywhere for the team and that’s genuine. Some players will say that and you think ‘Yeah, right!’. It sounds good, but he’s proved it, he’s done it.

“I thought he was outstanding on Tuesday night, he really put in a terrific performance. I thought the front three were terrific, I think Freddie, Murph and Pits were great.

“Freddie’s just gone out and done it, he’s much better than I thought he was. I thought he was good enough to sign him and it’s always nice when they surprise you and they’re better than you think they are.”

After Tuesday’s game McCarthy revealed that the Hornchurch-born frontman had asked him for advice on what he should be doing at particular points games in the wide role he has been asked to play in recent matches.

The Town boss says not all players will ask for further guidance in that manner: “There are some players who look you in the eye and you think they’re listening to the manager and they’re not."

“There are some who do just nod and you wish they’d said ‘Well actually gaffer, could you just explain that to me?’.

“It was me who pulled Freddie over just to tell him how well I thought he’d been doing in wide areas and how much I appreciated it.

“That was at my behest and I said a couple of things about him playing there and he said, ‘Well look, what do you want me to do there…’, which is great rather than just saying ‘I’m cool with that, I understand it’ because we’ve all done that as players.

“I’m sure I did it myself when I was younger, when the manager’s telling you to do something you nod because you’re embarrassed, you don’t want to go ‘Well, actually I’m not quite sure what you mean’, but it was Freddie and me having a chat and not in a team meeting.

“It’s always a bit embarrassing in a team meeting if you go ‘I’m not quite sure what you mean’ and then the manager bawls you out.

“I’ve seen that, I’ve never done it - ‘What do you mean you don’t know what I mean, are you thick or what!’. That’s not a good way of coaching. But I’ve seen that, believe me, but I would never do it.

"It was nice that he asked and we saw the benefit, I think he got man of the match, he was outstanding on Tuesday.”

McCarthy recalled Jonas Knudsen at left-back for the Bolton game after the Dane recovered from his hamstring problem with Jonny Parr dropping back to the bench having been part of a back four which had kept a clean sheet against Cardiff.

The Town boss says nothing he could have said to the Norwegian would have made the the situation easier for him to take: “That was the decision. I doubt he understood it or liked it, I wouldn’t want him to like it.

“If he doesn’t understand it, Jonas is my first-choice left-back. He was excellent I thought the other night, both offensively and defensively, so that’s just the way it is sometimes.

“There are times when you can’t say anything to the player you’re leaving out to make him feel better or worse. It’s my choice, that’s what I want to do, and that’s just the way it was.”

The Blues boss says it’s important to have versatile players such as Sears and Parr in a squad.

“I think it’s vital to have players who can do that because there might be a time, as it’s been in the past, when we haven’t got that many players but we’ve got one or two who can fill in and do certain roles.

“Jonny Parr covers any part of the pitch in wide areas, full-back or in midfield. Tabby’s done loads of jobs and he’s not been involved because he’s been injured but he’s back fit.

“Freddie’s been out wide and in the middle. Freddie could have had a hat-trick the other night, he had shots saved and chances just went by him on Tuesday night.

“Kevin Bru played narrow but he played on the right-hand side. It’s great that and you need it, it’s vital, especially when the game is going on and you might not want to make a certain sub, you can ask somebody to move and do something else.”

Photo: Action Images

Stato added 06:16 - Nov 6 Sears could easily play in the premiership and I just hope it's with us.
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prebsa added 07:49 - Nov 6 So for Parr, he got in and didnt get to stay in, yet its different for other players Gerken gets in and stays in. The term "undropables" comes to mind!
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Blue_Moses added 07:59 - Nov 6 Play him upfront then!
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rfretwell added 08:11 - Nov 6 Parr must be pretty gutted not to make a position his own at Town. However Utility players are vital though to clubs with limited resources - remember Mickey Stockwell - a very versatile player, played lots of times and also popped up with quite a few goals in his time.
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Bluebell added 08:17 - Nov 6 I did think it was unfair to drop Parr on Tuesday evening. He has been playing well and scored at Forest. I trust Mick as he is watching them all the time training and playing and if he prefers Knudsen then he is obviously the better player in the left back position whatever the fans may think.
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Jimmy86 added 08:31 - Nov 6 Kinda feel sorry for Parr as niggly injuries are what have halted his career at town. Mick also laid down the challenge to Parr in pre season to make the left back position his own, something he couldn't do at the start of the season, coz he was injured. Palace fans were gutted to see him go, still think he's a real player, Parr
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bluesfranc added 08:37 - Nov 6 Think Parr was very unlucky to be dropped especially after his performance at Forest, but Knudsen played well on Tuesday so the decision payed off... Whatever 11 MM picks is obviously what he feels is best to win us the game, I trust him to know whats best over us fans!
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Keaneish added 09:08 - Nov 6 Agree on Freddie. Nothing better than a player putting in a shift in like that week in week out. Part was probably dropped as he allowed Ameobi to come inside far too often in the Cardiff game.
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ntoms97 added 11:10 - Nov 6 Parr is a strong player and surprised really since he signed he's never had a long time in the first team, but he's a class backup and he'll be aching to show his worth!
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Portman51 added 11:46 - Nov 6 So basically, MM has a particular group of "first choice" players who will always be shoehorned in if fit, regardless of form or position. Seems like poor squad management to me and a serious disincentive to the likes of Parr.
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MathieandMarshall added 13:00 - Nov 6 I think Parr is one of those players who the fans see as a much better player than he actually is because he is out of the team and we have been struggling. don't get me wrong, I like Parr and he is a decent squad player (and probably should be at RB) but he isn't the answer to all of our problems. I actually think Knudsen will develop into a very good attacking full back with time so agree with Mick to make him first choice and get games into him. I am not saying that I agree with all of Micks decisions, I would have brought Bart back in as soon as he returned from Poland. I'd also play Freddie through the middle where he is most dangerous and not out wide. Anyway, lets hope we are turning a corner now and go on a decent run. COYB!

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therein61 added 17:31 - Nov 6 Both Sears and Bru are a breath of fresh air both have flair, industry, and a great attitude that makes them certain starters(when fit of course) both get bums off seats when they get the ball the endeavour they show appears to be spreading through the team, on Tuesday night I felt we were getting back on track with the effort put in and a more than welcome 3 points pointing to(with luck) a run of results to get us back into the mix!!! C.O.Y.B'S

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blueboy1981 added 18:20 - Nov 6 .......... wake up Michael !!! ...... it's been there for all to see - and now you've realised something - use him to his FULL capability.
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