Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has insisted he does most damage in the centre after his starring role in the Carling Cup.

The former Arsenal man scored his first goal for Ipswich Town and often ran the show for the Blues in their dismal 2-1 defeat by Northampton.

And with Jewell preoccupied with his injury-hit backline, Emmanuel-Thomas believes attack could be the best form of defence when Hull City visit Portman Road tomorrow.

And that could mean playing JET behind Michael Chopra in a free role if Jewell decides to revert back to his favoured 4-4-2 formation.

The 20-year-old said: “I think I play best central. Once I get on the ball, I can see passes and run with the ball and beat players. Obviously I don’t mind playing wide and getting in one v one situations and be just as dangerous. But hopefully I can get a lot more time playing in a central area.”

Jewell yesterday completed his eighth new transfer after Keith Andrews completed his protracted loan deal from Blackburn, as exclusively revealed by the Evening Star 10 days ago.

Now summer signing number seven believes he can play a pivotal role in helping Town overcome their Carling Cup disappointments against the Tigers.

He said: “I feel I am coming back to my best, getting on the ball and taking on players and hopefully I can keep that going for as long as possible.

There will be a few changes and hopefully we can get back to how we played last Saturday and get up and running again.”

Of his enigmatic playmaker, Jewell said yesterday: “Sometimes he goes from world-beater to panel-beater. He does things where you think ‘how has he done that?’ And the next minute he can be sloppy.

“He put in a lovely pass for our second goal on Saturday and did some lovely stuff on Tuesday night. But he knows he’s got to do it day-in, day-out, to get in our team.”