Playing wide right in a fluid front four suits David McGoldrick, says Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy.

The Republic of Ireland international has generally been the silky central link-up man during his near four years at the club, but has found himself operating on the wing in recent weeks.

That’s because McCarthy has trusted the forward-thinking quartet of Joe Garner, McGoldrick, Martyn Waghorn and Bersant Celina to interchange at will. “We’ve worked on it, whether they come in narrow and play, go out wide or run in behind,” explained the Blues boss, speaking ahead of tomorrow’s Championship visit of Sheffield Wednesday.

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“It could be Joe doing what Waggy’s doing, Waggy on the right, Didz (McGoldrick) on the left and Bersant up front until they rearrange themselves to the positions that we set off with – which would be Joe up front, Waggy in behind and either Didzy or Bersant in wide areas.

“It is fluid and (the instruction) is pretty much ‘go and play’. We try and have a solid base behind them.”

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He continued: “They have to be disciplined as well. Didzy has still got to stop the left-back when he runs and Bersant has to try and stop the right-back. I thought they both did that brilliantly on Saturday.

“And Didzy still manages to get his goal. Strangely enough, I think playing that way gives him more freedom than being up front and down the middle. He’s allowed to wander a bit and it’s suited him. How many goals has he got – eight?”

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McCarthy added: “I hardly ever played against teams with four up and two sitters in my career. I remember Pleaty (David Pleat) did it for Luton, in the Fourth Division, and that was innovative at the time. Most teams were 4-4-2.

“I played in World Cups against teams with all sorts of shapes and systems though. Do you know what, any system can cause you problems if the players in it play well.

“I think anyone would find it hard against our front four if they are all playing well. At the moment that four are causing people problems. If it suddenly dried up I might have to try something else though.”