Ipswich Town striker Daryl Murphy has insisted that his recent scoring drought did not play heavily on his mind.
The 32-year-old top-scored in the Championship last season with 27 goals from 48 games.
A barren run at the start of this campaign, in which he failed to net in any of his opening 13 outings, was soon forgotten about on Saturday when scoring three times against Rotherham United - his first hat-trick in English football.
Having now opened his account for the term, Murphy says that his ability to build on last season's tally was never in doubt.
"It hasn't really been bothering me because I'd been getting chances, but just been unlucky in front of goal," he is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
"I think if I'd have been younger it probably would have weighed on my mind a bit more, but with experience if I'm getting in good positions and getting chances then I know one will come eventually. If I'm not getting chances then that's when I'd start to worry."
Murphy will link up with the Republic of Ireland squad this week ahead of their crucial Euro 2016 qualifying double-header against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Daniel Lewis
