Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy is delighted that he will be able to call upon unsung hero Daryl Murphy again this weekend.

The Irish striker has rarely been a headline maker during his three-and-a-half years at the club, either toiling out of position on the left of midfield under Paul Jewell’s management or acting as the unfashionable link-up man in a strike partnership.

He’s hit the form of his life after finally becoming a permanent addition at the club last summer though, proving unplayable at times this season, dominating in the air in both boxes and chipping in with seven goals.

The 30-year-old’s absence was certainly noticeable during recent successive defeats – 3-1 at home to QPR last weekend and 3-2 at Preston on Tuesday night – as a nine-game unbeaten run was brought to a grinding halt.

Murphy has now recovered from the thigh strain he sustained in the latter stages of the 1-1 draw with Charlton on New Year’s Day though and should return to the side for tomorrow’s game at Millwall.

“It’s good to have him back,” said McCarthy. “Sometimes he puts all the graft in and doesn’t get the goal for it. Didz (David McGoldrick) or somebody else gets the goal and all the headlines. That happens in every team – the ones who get the goals are always appreciated more.

“Murph’s got his fair share of goals this season though, to be fair. This is certainly the best he has ever played for me (having also played under McCarthy’s management at Sunderland) and I doubt he’s ever played any better throughout his career because wouldn’t be at this level now if he had.

“I think he’s been very, very good this season and has been a real handful for everybody he’s faced.”