Nigel Pearson believes Nahki Wells' infectious enthusiasm is having an effect on the rest of his team-mates as he continues to enjoy a purple patch in City's prolific attack.
The 32-year-old scored twice in Saturday's 3-2 victory over Blackburn to take his season's tally up to four, one more than he managed in the entirety of last campaign.
Wells is being rewarded for his patience during a prolonged and frustrating period of sitting on the bench last season. Out of the 32 Championship appearances he made, 25 of those came as a substitute.
During that period, Pearson constantly praised the striker's attitude and character as he maintained his match fitness with the Under-23s and played his part in helping the likes of Tommy Conway breakthrough into the senior ranks.
Antoine Semenyo's injury sustained on international duty with Ghana and the form of Conway, in which the duo formed a partnership on and off the pitch, contributed to Pearson putting his faith in Wells and the Bermudian is grabbing his opportunity with both hands.
The manager heaped praise on his goalscoring form but also gave nod to his work rate off the ball as City's defending from the front was the base of their victory over Rovers. As he has done in each of the matches he has played this season, Wells left everything out on the pitch and his heatmap is evidence of the tireless performance he produced.
"Nahki is a good finisher but today (Saturday) his work rate and understanding of the team was right up there and it was a good contribution from him," Pearson said.
"He's got a real enthusiasm for a senior player and it's infectious too. He cares a lot about his football and it hurts when he's not playing but last year when he didn't get many opportunities he was a really good team-mate to his piers and very supportive of them. He deserves his chance and he's taken it well so far."
Wells' form is only adding to the welcome selection dilemma Pearson is dealing with in attack. His side are the second joint-highest scorers in the country alongside Championship table-toppers Sheffield United and behind Manchester City.
Conway's emergence in the side almost feels like a new signing after scoring his sixth goal in his last eight matches with a first-half diving header at Ewood Park to put the visitors into the lead.
The 20-year-old previously spoke of the impact Wells has had on his early career by revealing: "I think we grew close last year when we were on the bench together. We played a number of Under-23 games together and we got to know each other on a personal level too as well as playing on the pitch.
"We work off each other well and we're always talking off the pitch so I don't think there's anyone better for me to learn off, both on the pitch and off it."
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