Never write a team managed by Mick McCarthy off, former Wolves star Matt Murray tells Ipswich Town fans

Matt Murray

The Blues’ top-six aspirations were dealt a severe blow on Monday after 16-goal top-scorer David McGoldrick was ruled out for 10 weeks with a knee ligament injury.

Now five points shy of the top-six, 81% of Town fans who voted in an online EADT poll yesterday ruled out Ipswich’s chances.

But Murray, part of McCarthy’s squad that reached the play-off semi-finals during the Yorkshireman’s first season in charge at Molineux in 2006/07, said if any one could defy the odds, it was the 55-year-old.

“When Mick came to Wolves in the summer of 2006, he lost the likes of Joleon Lescott, Paul Ince, Mark Kennedy and Kenny Miller, and they were all big names,” said Murray, who retired through injury in August 2010.

“People thought we were favourites for relegation but Mick built a squad that got into the play-offs and one thing he doesn’t do is panic.

“He built a squad with few experienced players in it and signed the likes of Michael Kightly, Matt Jarvis and Stephen Ward who he turned into Premier League players.”

McGoldrick’s absence means eight-goal Daryl Murphy now represents Town’s main source of goals, but Murray says the former Sunderland striker won’t have any extra burden to carry from McCarthy.

“He keeps the pressure off his players, he keeps you believing and he is the best motivator I have ever known,” Murray added.

“His honesty and the way he demands high standards rubs off on his players and he will make sure his players give their all.

“David McGoldrick getting injured will be a big, big miss for Ipswich, but these things happen and Mick and TC (Terry Connor) are very good in the transfer market too.

“Five points isn’t insurmountable and knowing Mick, he will be quite happy that people are writing his team off.”

Town travel to league leaders Leicester on Saturday.