With Frank Nouble heading for the exit door at Ipswich Town, manager Mick McCarthy yesterday told another departing striker, Jack Marriott, to add more strings to his bow, in order to become a Blues regular.
Marriott, 19, is heading to League Two Carlisle United for a month and could make his debut at Cheltenham tonight, while Nouble, who is travelling with the Blues to Birmingham City for this evening’s Championship game, is being allowed to leave the club, on loan or permanently.
Conor Sammon’s arrival from Derby on a season-long loan was the writing on the wall for Nouble, and means Marriott can go out on loan to gain more first-team experience, following an impressive goalscoring loan spell at non-league Woking last season.
McCarthy, who could hand Sammon his first start against Lee Clark’s side, said: “Jack (Marriott) is capable of playing at that (League Two) level and if he gets chances, will score goals,” he said.
“But he can’t just be a goalscorer.
“David McGoldrick went 11 games without a goal last season but I never considered leaving him out because he held the ball up, ran the channels, defended, made the ball stick and set things up for other players.
“He is an all-round player and he eventually got back in the goals which was terrific.”
He added: “If he (Marriott) does well at Carlisle, Graham Kavanagh will want to keep him.
“If he’s done well and we are not doing well and not scoring, I’ll probably want to bring him back,”
As for Nouble, the 22-year-old has struggled for consistency and goals since arriving from Wolves for £25,000.
“I’ve been really appreciative and delighted with his input at times when he’s come off the bench and changed games,” said McCarthy, who confirmed ex-West Ham midfielder Jack Collison was training at the club.
“He doesn’t want to be sub, he’s had a good spell of that and when he’s come in he’s done reasonably well, certain games better than others.
“Against Palace here he ripped it up and Birmingham here but it’s not been on a consistent basis.
“I have brought Conor in and as soon as he saw that, he probably thought it was the writing on the wall and I am happy to let him go.”
Asked if Nouble’s Town career was over McCarthy added: “The problem is, players make their mind up if you say they are available for transfer of loan. It’s kind of a cut-off point.
“Who knows though, we may get gastro-enteritis on the coach and he may end up playing and scoring two goals (at Birmingham).
“All being equal he won’t be involved.”
Follow @Stuart_Watson for live updates from Ipswich Town’s visit to Birmingham tonight
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