David McGoldrick, pictured during his Ipswich Town debut against Aston Villa last weekend

YOUNG, level-headed and hungry to prove themselves – Ipswich Town new boys David McGoldrick and Frank Nouble are keen to repay the faith of manager Mick McCarthy.

Having rubbed shoulders with the likes of Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale in Southampton’s academy, McGoldrick’s career stalled somewhat following a £1m move to hometown club Nottingham Forest.

A return of 17 goals from 24 starts at League One side Coventry City during a loan spell in the first half of this season saw McCarthy offer him what is effectively a two-and-half-year permanent deal though.

Nouble was also seen as a hot prospect when he came through Cheslea’s youth set-up, but he never quite kicked on following a move to West Ham. Earlier this week, the Blues became the eleventh club of the 21-year-old’s stop-start career.

“It didn’t quite work out for me at Forest, I dropped down a level to prove myself and now Ipswich have given me the chance to prove myself in the Championship again,” said McGoldrick, who is still only 25.

“There were a couple of other options on the table, but when a manager of Mick McCarthy’s experience – and a club as massive as Ipswich – come calling, you have to take it.

“Mark Robins (Coventry manager) wanted to keep me, but he understood that I wanted to get back in the Championship.

“When I told him my options, he told me that Ipswich were a great club and to sign for them – even though he used to play for Norwich!

“It’s a loan deal to start with because FIFA rules state you can’t play for three clubs in a season, but it’s all sorted for me to sign a two-year deal in the summer.

“This club has shown a lot of faith in me and I’m desperate to repay them.”

Nouble – whose was brought to former club Wolves by current Town assistant boss Terry Connor – said: “I never signed there with the plan to leave after six months, but things happen in football. I didn’t feel like I had the chance to showcase what I could do there (after Stale Solbakken took charge).

“Terry Connor is a great guy and I’m just happy I can rejoin two people that are very positive and encouraging. They have seen something in me and hopefully I can reward that faith.”

The duo are both now motivated to get back to the form showed during their bright beginnings in the game.

McGoldrick said: “I’ve watched the likes of Theo (Walcott) and Gareth (Bale) go on to do great things. I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to rub shoulders with them again one day and I hope I can do it with Ipswich. This is a new chapter for me.”

Nouble said: “When you have that level inside you as a youngster, I don’t care who you are, you always think ‘I want to get back there’.

“Those that know me will know my career hasn’t been all bad. I have no regrets because I’ve learnt something from everywhere I’ve been.”