Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy is expecting the goals to keep flowing for in-form Daryl Murphy after the striker’s stunning finish sealed the Blues’ victory over Brighton on Tuesday.

Murphy’s goal was his third of the season and his 33rd in 145 games for Blues – the striker having amassed just 17 goals from 141 previous games playing for Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday (loan) and Sunderland.

The Republic of Ireland international signed for Town permanently last season, following three loan spells, and McCarthy believes that has played a big factor in the targetman’s success.

“I signed him for Sunderland and then he’s always been on the move,” explained the Blues boss, who saw Murphy net 13 goals last season

“He’s never had his feet planted or his bum in one chair for long enough. He was at Celtic and went on loan all the time.

“He loves it here. I think his family are settled and that really helps.

“I’ve got no reason to think he won’t continue last season’s form because he works so hard.

“Him and David McGoldrick play off each other particularly well. It’s been lovely to see them both scoring goals.”

Meanwhile, McCarthy, who has offered a short-term deal to midfielder Jack Collison, has set his players the challenge to better Murphy’s effort against the Seagulls. The 31-year-old ran on to Tyrone Mings’ long ball before unleashing a left-foot volley that flashed across David Stockdale and into the far corner.

Town’s end-of-season awards are a long way off but McCarthy believes it will take some strike to stop his striker winning the Blues’ Goal of the Season.

“I was hoping he would smash the ball into that far corner but if you are thinking that’s what I thought he would do, you would be mistaken,” said McCarthy.

“It was a fabulous goal and someone has got to beat that now at our end-of-season awards. If someone does, it will be a fabulous one.”