Family-man David McGoldrick is blossoming in Portman Road’s close-knit environment, according to Blues boss Mick McCarthy.

The 25-year-old, an outstanding performer since switching to Suffolk last January, has plundered nine goals in 24 league games so far.

Hailed as a “boy wonder” at Notts County, he made his debut as a 16-year-old for the Magpies having left school early, the striker admitting recently “the academic side wasn’t really for me.”

Moves to Southampton and then Nottingham Forest followed but, despite having the potential it is only now that “Didzy” is consistently displaying his undoubted talent at Championship level.

The Ipswich-based striker recently revealed Nottingham social life proved a distraction in the past, however, he does remain a frequent visitor to the east Midlands to see his young family who he is loath to uproot.

“He’s always, always been a very talented player – he was at Southampton and Forest – but sometimes it takes players until they are 24/25, when they settle down and have kids, to reach their potential,” said McCarthy.

“He (McGoldrick) knows his value and that he’s loved by everybody. He could see that right from the start when we tried to sign him. He’s thriving in that environment and long may that continue.

“He can trust me and Terry to be absolutely dead straight with him. I’d like to be able to trust my players and I believe I can.”

A relatively late developer, McCarthy hopes his star striker can follow the lead of Rickie Lambert, who, seven years after playing in League Two, is now a full England international.

“I hope that we’re talking about him in glowing terms for the next three or four years and that it’s because of what he’s done in an Ipswich shirt,” added the Blues boss.