Mustapha Carayol admits telling manager Mick McCarthy a white lie ultimately helped him become the Ipswich Town match-winner at Preston.

East Anglian Daily Times: Mustapha Carayol, centre, had been ill prior to the game but emerged as Ipswich Town's match-winner. Picture PagepixMustapha Carayol, centre, had been ill prior to the game but emerged as Ipswich Town's match-winner. Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd 07976 935738)

The winger marked his full debut with the only goal of the game at Deepdale as he swept the ball home in the first half, capping a 45-minute display in which he terrorised the home defence at every opportunity.

He was replaced at the break having suffered with illness ahead of the game but, having told McCarthy he had completely recovered, he admitted after the game that might not have been entirely true.

“I don’t really want to say anything because the gaffer asked me if I was 100 per cent fine and I said yes because I was desperate to play,” he joked, when asked to what extent he had recovered from his illness.

MORE: Carayol stakes his claim with impressive Preston display... it’s just a shame it only lasted 45 mintues

“Wednesday wasn’t too good for me, I was ill, but I had a 45-minute session and it got a little better, I got some food down me and for me I’m happy to have been out there and help the boys along the way.”

“I thought I was going to get at least another 15 minutes (in the second half) and maybe get another chance to try and score a second but, at the end of the day it’s a team game and results are what matter.

“The gaffer felt that it was right and he knew it was going to be a bit of a scrap in the second half and I probably wouldn’t have got as many touches as I would have done in the first.

MORE: Highlights: Watch Carayol’s dazzling dribbling, neat finish and the golden chance that got away at Preston

East Anglian Daily Times: Mustapha Carayol scores at Deepdale during the first half Picture PagepixMustapha Carayol scores at Deepdale during the first half Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd 07976 935738)

“He made the right decision (to take me off) but if we didn’t get the right result I could probably have knocked on his door on Monday and said ‘gaffer you’ve got to give me 15’ but I’m cool.”

Carayol was relieved when his effort hit the back of the Preston net on 21-minutes, having missed a golden chance minutes earlier when he poked the ball wide after his initial effort was saved by Declan Rudd.

“The guy on the line kind of put me off because I was planning on bending it round him but I saw a bit of white (from his shirt) and it probably wasn’t the right finish,” Carayol said of his first chance.

MORE: Northstander: Job done. But hardly in a way that sets the pulse racing – and that’s the problem!

East Anglian Daily Times: Mustapha Carayol is congratulated on scoring the winner at Deepdale. Picture PagepixMustapha Carayol is congratulated on scoring the winner at Deepdale. Picture Pagepix (Image: Pagepix Ltd 07976 935738)

“When it fell back to me I felt I was unlucky because I tried to poke it under him, but I’m glad I got another opportunity and I made sure I just concentrated on it and got a good connection.

“It’s more of a relief after missing the first chance but I enjoyed it and I’m happy it ended up winning us the game.

“I was happy to be out there to get some minutes under my belt.”