Mick McCarthy has delivered mixed reports on two of Ipswich Town’s latest foreign stars as Kevin Bru and Balint Bajner adapt to life in English football.
Hungarian striker Bajner, 23, became something of a cult hero with Blues fans in pre-season, his contribution in front of goal helping to secure him a one-year at Portman Road.
Mauritian international Bru, arrived with less fanfare, following his release from Bulgarian club Levski Sofia, but the 25-year-old Parisian has made the bigger impact so far.
Bru has made two starts for Town this season, in the draw at Derby and the home victory against Rotherham, whereas Bajner has hardly figured since lastiing just 44 minutes of his debut in the opening-day 2-1 victory over Fulham.
Despite Bajner’s early struggles, McCarthy has recognised the former Borussia Dortmund B striker’s contributions off the bench, while acknowledging that Bru has got to grips with the Championship slightly quicker.
“Kevin has grasped it (the Championship) really well,” said McCarthy.
“In the game against Derby, he was goosed at the end but he continued going and ran something like 13.5 kilometres that day. Only Craig Bryson beat him and he was still going strong at the end of the Rotherham game.”
As for Bajner, who has found his path to the first team blocked by Conor Sammon, David McGoldrick and Daryl Murphy, McCarthy added: “Balint has found it tough but whenever he has come on he has contributed.
“He certainly contributed at Birmingham and against Rotherham.”
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