Boss Kieran McKenna says forward Nathan Broadhead will have a big role to play from the start of games as Town move into the business end of the season.

The Blues have been careful to manage Broadhead's fitness since signing him from Everton for £1.5 million in January, the 24-year-old Welshman having made four starts and four sub appearances so far, scoring two goals, one in each of the last two home matches.

“He was always in our minds to be a regular starter,” McKenna said. “We didn’t bring him in to be anything other than that.

“As I said before, he has arrived in the middle of a season coming off the back of a hamstring injury that he had going into the World Cup winter break.

“We knew we had to manage him for the first few weeks to make sure we have him for the run-in and in good condition for the real business end of the season.

“We’ve done that over the last few weeks. We think he is a really good player and we see him as having a big role to play in terms of starting games and hopefully he will make a big impact for us.”

Photo: Matchday Images

bluesteal74 added 11:13 - Feb 24 Needs to start every game possible really good player and I think there's still more to come from him, he played a key part in getting Sunderland promoted let's hope history repeats itself. COYB⁠-⁠)
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Karlosfandangal added 11:39 - Feb 24 Excellent sighing ,the 3 games I have watched he has played well and seems to be getting better all the time. Cant make my mind up on Hurst at the minute not sure if he is one to buy at the end of the season, however Town were trying to sign him in the summer so they must see something in him. I am not saying he's a bad player just not sure if he better than what we have at the minute. Early days for him so I hope I am eating my words at the end of the season. Fo me at the minute I would prefer Ladapo as the striker

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itfcskayman added 12:07 - Feb 24 Aluko and Harness show glimpses but we really need Chaplin and Broadhead on the pitch as much as possible to stand a chance of getting near the top 2. Tough ask but possible.
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Bazza8564 added 12:20 - Feb 24 Chaplin and Broadhead for me too, in fact my only change from last weeks starting XI would be Massimo for Cam. We've had a week between games so we shoulnt need too much rotation tomorrow
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Stato added 12:30 - Feb 24 I've said it so many times but Chaplin more important than any other attacking player we have but he has NEVER been singled out for praise by McKenna who has subbed him more than any other player. Ladapo and Hirst both failing to secure the 9 shirt as theirs. For me it's Ladapo at the moment but Hirst is getting fitter and might yet catch fire
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Suffolkboy added 12:39 - Feb 24 NB has the right initials - so N B ,we're all watching and hoping the early signs will result in true success ; the attributes and components to be really really good are there ! COYB
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Wickets added 12:48 - Feb 24 Hate blooming Hamstring injuries have that horrible habit of resurfacing . Good luck Nat .
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OsborneOneNil added 13:49 - Feb 24 Different level
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Texastom added 16:54 - Feb 24 Broadhead is class. On the Team sheet every week.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 11:17 - Feb 25 For me Broadhead and Chappers with Ladapo spearheading need to be the front 3 from Now till end of the season. Too late in the season to be playing others just to give them game time we need points unless injured or out of form we need partnerships growing all over the pitch for that run in.
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