Blues manager Gary O’Neil says forward Julio Enciso has made a fantastic start to the season.

The 22-year-old rejoined Town on a permanent basis in the summer from O’Neil’s previous club Strasbourg for a fee of £26 million having had a spell on loan from Brighton in the second half of the 2024/25 season.

Paraguay international Enciso scored his first goal of his second spell with the club in last week’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, which was also his first at Portman Road, both his strikes during his loan stint having come away from home.

“He’s excellent,” O’Neil enthused. “A fantastic number 10, understands the role well in and out of possession.

“His goals never bother me, really. I think it can be easy to judge attacking players on that, but he does so much good stuff.

“His chance creation stuff and his work for the team has been exceptional, so even without that goal last weekend, I’m really pleased with where he’s at. I think he’s had a fantastic start.

“He’s helped push the team forward but, of course, [I’m delighted] if he can add those goals and those moments, especially the way he did it, created it himself with hard work, good quality to finish it off.

“So I’m really pleased with where he’s at and he’ll be big for us again tomorrow against a Hull defence that are resolute and tricky to break down.

“I think having Julio in and around the positions that we try and get him in could be key for us tomorrow.”

Photo: Reuters