Ipswich Town already have ‘Joniesta’, otherwise known as Jonny Williams, while red-hot Blues striker Daryl Murphy now also answers to a new nickname – ‘Murphlinho’.

East Anglian Daily Times: Stephen Hunt celebrates with Daryl Murphy after his Tuesday match-winnerStephen Hunt celebrates with Daryl Murphy after his Tuesday match-winner (Image: Archant)

That is according to Town midfielder Stephen Hunt, who was delighted by Murphy’s ninth and 10th goals of the season, in Tuesday’s 2-1 home win against Wolves.

“Murphlinho is what I called him after the second one,” revealed the ex-Hull schemer.

Murphy curled in a delightful 35th-minute opener, before producing an even better winner in the second half, latching onto David McGoldrick’s precise through pass, before dinking the ball over the stranded Carl Ikeme.

Hunt said: “I think he’s been top class all season to be fair to him, and to get into double figures at such an early stage is good going.

“We don’t want him to rest on his laurels and he’ll keep going, and keep scoring those vital goals for the team.”

There is no doubting that Murphy is in the form of his career and, alongside Derby’s Chris Martin, is now the Championship’s joint-leading goalscorer.

The Republic of Ireland international is outshining current five-goal strike partner McGoldrick at present, as last season’s top scorer (16 league goals), looks to find his fitness and form after sustaining a knee injury against Blackpool in mid-February – something Hunt acknowledges and accepts.

“David McGoldrick was out for five or six months, he’s playing very well for someone who has been out for that length of time,” added Hunt, who played his part in Tuesday’s win with a determined display against his former employers.

“It will take him 10-15 games to get back to where he was.

“He is still very effective for us make no mistake about it.”