‘He gets the best out of players’

Not many, if any, of the current Ireland squad have encountered Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane more in the past decade than Daryl Murphy and Ipswich Town’s Irish striker realises the pair of adversaries are integral to his future.

This coming Saturday at Portman Road, Murphy begins his tenth season as a professional footballer in Britain when a relegated Fulham squad bolstered with reinforcements such as €13m purchase Ross McCormack aim to flex their muscles early on in the Championship promotion chase. Murphy and his unfancied Tractor Boys led by McCarthy succeeded in usurping some of the supposed big boys last term; the Waterford man’s 13 goals going a long way to finishing Ipswich a mere four points off the play-off zone.

Another double-figure goal haul for the 31-year-old during this campaign and the joy will be savoured not only by McCarthy but also his nemesis Keane.

It was for the first squad selected by the Corkman in his capacity as Martin O’Neill’s assistant that led to Murphy ending a six-year wait to win his ninth cap against Serbia in March.

Recruited by McCarthy from Waterford to Sunderland in 2005, it was only after Keane arrived as boss a year later that Murphy enjoyed a sustained stint in the side. He was reunited with Keane at Ipswich Town in 2010, eventually returning to Suffolk under McCarthy following a spell sandwiched in between at Celtic.

The Ipswich manager will once again begin the campaign this weekend relying on Murphy’s firepower to belie their limited budget by competing for promotion.

Often criticised for being overly-loyal during his time as Ireland manager, this trait of McCarthy’s is instead lauded by Murphy.

“I can’t talk highly enough of what Mick has done for me,” said Murphy.

“He took a gamble in buying me from the League of Ireland and we’ve worked on and off over my career since.

“Mick’s man-management skills are the best I have ever worked with.

“You could be doing well but might make a few mistakes in games and he will call you in to tell you how you could be doing better. He is more than capable of keeping you on your toes.

“That is definitely his best skill. He gets the best out of players. You know what he wants because you soon realise the way he wants you to play.

“And I think people enjoy working with him. Hence why we can get players in at Ipswich now whereas in the last year under Paul Jewell there was a hesitancy from players to come.

“It just wasn’t happening. They found it hard to sign players. Since Mick’s come in, he’s brought some quality players to the club on free transfers.”

Irish supporters would be familiar with a few of those shrewd acquisitions. Stephen Hunt, having joined on a pay-as-you-play basis midway through last season, has been granted a new deal. Another player eager to wear the green jersey of Ireland, David McGoldrick, sampled his first game-time in Saturday’s friendly against Leyton Orient since suffering ligament damage in February.

That McCarthy, too, has committed in recent months to Ipswich on a three-year contract demonstrates to Murphy the stability prevalent around Portman Road.

“Players can see that the club is progressing under the gaffer,” he reasoned. “Last season, we got so close to the play-offs but knew we were short two or three players. The injury to McGoldrick didn’t help us because he was our main man. We’re all pulling in the right direction and want to do better this time by reaching the play-offs.”

Knowing McCarthy as he does, the Ireland striker isn’t expecting an entitlement to lead the line. Goals are his currency, so he insists the net must be found to retain his place.

He admitted: “I can’t rest on my laurels and reflect that last year went well for me. The gaffer has said it is not going to be given to me; that it’s a clean slate and everything is based what I do from now on.

“I know myself that I have to up my game to stay in the Ireland squad as well.”

That would entail working under Keane again and he admits to being relieved that O’Neill’s assistant didn’t depart for the lure of Celtic in June. “It was good news for Ireland and the players,” he said.

“Roy has brilliant since he’s come onto the staff and all the lads are enjoying it. Thankfully it was sorted quickly and I think he has done the right thing.

“He’s working under two different managers now, seeing what it is all about and in the future. And maybe he’ll get back into management himself in the future.”