MICK McCarthy believes patience will be the key with Frank Nouble, as Ipswich Town look to get the best out of the young striker’s ability.

Despite being just 21, Nouble is already at his tenth club, having signed on the dotted line at Portman Road last month.

Having started as a youngster at Chelsea, the Londoner moved on to West Ham and finally Wolves, via loan spells at several clubs, including Barnsley, Gillingham, Swindon Town and West Bromwich Albion.

Nouble has yet to start for Town and his substitute appearances have yet to yield a goal.

However, McCarthy has labelled the 6ft 3ins striker as a work in progress and is desperate for the pacey frontman to be a success in a Town shirt.

“I hope he turns into a player,” said McCarthy.

“Terry Connor (assistant manager) will have a lot to do with that because he worked with him for four months at Wolves.

“I actually was trying to sign him for Wolves before I left, Terry followed it up and did.”

With the build of a heavyweight boxer and pace to burn, Nouble has all the credentials to become a major nuisance to opposition defences in the Championship.

But the Blues boss believes there are other facets to the striker’s game that supporters may have not yet seen.

“There’s more to him than a big, strong lad that goes on (as a sub) – he’s better than that,” explained the Town boss, who suggested the striker may not have been nurtured as well as he could have been at previous clubs he has featured for.

“He plays to his strengths, but I think he’s a better footballer than that and has a lot to offer us.

“He wants to do well. He’s really ambitious.

“If you look at where he’s been, he’s been to so many clubs on loan and he’ll admit himself that they put him in the team, he does alright, and then he doesn’t do alright.

“He’s not been quite what some have thought he is and he just gets sent back and doesn’t get worked with.

“Well we will work with him and hopefully get the best out of him.

“He’s a great kid and really wants to do well.”