Mick McCarthy targets Jay Emmanuel-Thomas improvement

Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy believes that Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has the potential to be "anything he wants to be".

The 21-year-old has not started a match since McCarthy took charge at Portman Road and the former Wolves boss has told the versatile player that he needs to improve his workrate.

McCarthy told BBC Radio Suffolk: "We all know he could be anything he wants to be. He's got terrific ability and I need that out of him. We can help him do that of course.

"We quite fancy him up the pitch as a centre-forward. He's six foot three or four, a big powerful guy and he can run at people.

"It's getting him to get into the box, getting him to want to get into the box to get a goal. Terry Connor's been working with him on that."

Ipswich are currently in 23rd place in the Championship table.