Albion boss Sami Hyypia believes Paddy McCourt could help solve his side’s attacking shortcomings – as long as he sticks to what he is good at.

The former Barnsley playmaker is expected to retain his place in the squad at Burton Albion in the Capital One Cup tomorrow night following his first appearance at the Amex as a late substitute in Saturday’s stalemate against Blackpool.

McCourt was promoted to the bench at the expense of Inigo Calderon after 90 minutes for the under-21s last week.

Hyypia told The Argus: “He has worked hard on his fitness. I decided to leave a defensive player off the bench and have Paddy to maybe make the difference at the end of the game but I think he wanted to show a little bit too much what he can do.

“We were playing balls that maybe we shouldn’t be playing. We are not the biggest up front and when we are playing longer balls and our offensive players are fighting with the centre-backs I think everyone knows more or less what is going to happen.

“But he had a few good moments. He didn’t have long to show everything he can do but he is a good option for the offensive part of the pitch.

“Maybe he can help us in the final third to get that creativity, to create more chances.”

Free agent McCourt, 30, was signed on a one-year deal last month after a trial and made his debut as a substitute in the last round of the Capital One Cup at Swindon.

Albion have taken two points out of 12 in the Championship since that extra-time win and failed to score in the last two games against Blackpool and Ipswich.