Blues boss Paul Lambert has been delighted with the start striker Oli Hawkins has made to his Town career, even if the former Portsmouth man is yet to score his first goal for the club.

Hawkins, 28, joined Town in August having been released by Pompey at the end of last season.

Having been a little off the pace fitness-wise when he joined the club, the 6ft 5in tall frontman has started the last three League One matches.

“Brilliant, really good, a really good guy as well,” Lambert said when asked about the start of Hawkins’s Blues career.

“He gives us a totally different option to what we had. I’ve been absolutely delighted with him, I really have.

“Against Rochdale he could have had a hat-trick but his general game has been absolutely great. Really, really pleased with how he’s started, on and off the pitch which has been important.”

Town’s goals have all come from midfielders, wide players or defenders this season with no one starting in the central striking position having found the target as yet.

While the role helps to facilitate the likes of Gwion Edwards, who has scored four, and Jon Nolan and Teddy Bishop, who have netted three each, grabbing goals, Lambert wants to see Hawkins find the target himself.

“I want him to score, you want him to score because that is his goal,” he said. “But he definitely brings people into the game with his general movement, his hold-up play. I’m delighted with him, I’m really, really happy with him, how he’s performing.

“He’s bringing people into the game, he’s setting people up, which is great. Oli’s been really good for us.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Freddies_Ears added 14:05 - Oct 16 He might be the best non-scoring striker in our history... He ties up opposing defences and ensures our MF find the space to score.
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Cloddyseedbed added 14:19 - Oct 16 I agree I think bringing him in was a positive step for the club and squad. He is a big physical presence up front......if we just had wide players who could consistently put good crosses in from the flanks he'd get on the end of them and cause mayhem.
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Drifter3012 added 16:14 - Oct 16 I have liked the look of Oli so far. He seems to have a good handle on his role in the team at present. Hopefully he will get his first goal soon and then get on a run of scoring.
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d77sgw added 16:24 - Oct 16 I like the way he handles himself. For a long time this club made a habit of signing the right characters, not just players with great technique- Ramsey, Robson excelled at that - Burley learned from the latter. The right team spirit is vital if we're going to get out of this division.
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cornishnick added 18:45 - Oct 16 The new Mich D'Avray
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iaintaylorx added 19:31 - Oct 16 Seems like a guy who will play anywhere for the team and put in a shift. Despite not scoring yet (still early days), his hold up play is so important and I think that's allowed Bish to grab the goals he has got so far. COYB!
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have_a_word_with_him added 19:35 - Oct 16 I can live with him not scoring many if what he does makes the team work, and so far, so good seemingly. Keep it up Oli!
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Edmundo added 20:08 - Oct 16 Teddy Sheringham did pretty well despite being a "non scoring" target man. Hopefully Oli will be our Sheringham... need to find our Shearer now!
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Europablue added 10:20 - Oct 17 I don't really care who is scoring as long as we are winning. I'd like to see Hawkins rewarded for his efforts for the team with a goal though.
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Linkboy13 added 10:55 - Oct 17 He's given us another option that we've been missing since Daral Murphy left.
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