AFTER enjoying the best days of his playing career under George Burley, it is little wonder Jim Magilton is using the Scot as a role model in his first managerial job.

By Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

AFTER enjoying the best days of his playing career under George Burley, it is little wonder Jim Magilton is using the Scot as a role model in his first managerial job.

Magilton played the game of his life to help fire Ipswich into the play-off finals by scoring a hat-trick against Bolton, won promotion and played in Europe under Burley.

Now he is looking to emulate his old boss at Ipswich Town using the blueprint formulated at Portman Road.

Magilton said: “George is someone who comes in the including everyday expecting the highest of standards. When he walked onto the training pitch he expected the best every time. That is how he was brought up in the game and that has stuck with me.

“His whole ethos was centred around self-belief and self-improvement. Taking care of yourself with regards to your own game and putting demands on yourself.

“He had good players here who were all on the some wavelength and that is what we are trying to develop here.

“If we all focus on both strengths and weakness then you can only improve and you will see that improvement spread through the club.

“It was a pleasure to work with him and he was a great manager, who always dealt in the positives, and it is no surprise to me that Southampton are doing so well.”

After going six away games without a win, or even scoring, the Blues are desperate to repeat the 2-0 winning scoreline they enjoyed at St Mary's last year when Magilton started against his old club.

He said: “Southampton is a lovely place to go and play. It is a club run along the same lines as Ipswich. There is a feel-good factor about the place.

“They have real community feel, with supporters who are very passionate about their football club.

“We had a very good result and performance there last year so we need to go there again reproduce that.”

Alan Lee was a two-goal hero in that game with a 10-out-of-10 battering ram performance and could be used as a lone striker today, although Magilton is keen he forges an understanding with Jon Walters.

He said: “Jon and Alan looked lively for the first 20 minutes on Tuesday, which was only the second time they have played together.

“It is vital that we can help develop a relationship there and find pairings, as we are with Danny (Haynes) and Billy (Clarke).

“It is a case of finding that right balance from scoring goals to not conceding goals.

“We have worked hard to stop goals and defensively we have been pretty solid. Now we have to work at the other end as goals are our bred and butter we have to take risks.”

Billy Clarke travelled with the 18-man squad but will be given a fitness test today

Richard Naylor and Fabian Wilnis are not included, although both have made big strides in their recovery.