Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy insists Socceroos winger Tommy Oar has been "doing great in training", despite the Australian's slow start in England.

Oar joined the Championship club in August but has made just five senior appearances, with McCarthy claiming the Australia international has struggled with the "tempo" of England's second tier.

The former Utrecht speedster made his Ipswich debut in the League Cup against Manchester United, playing a full game, and then made two consecutive league appearances, including a start against Huddersfield Town.

That game ended in disappointment, however, as Oar was subbed at half-time with what turned out to be concussion.

But McCarthy remains convinced Oar will succeed in the Championship.

"He's doing great in training, he trained really well today, I was delighted with him, and I have been whenever he trains," McCarthy said, according to TWTD.co.uk.

"But he himself has said that getting up to speed playing at what we play at, the pace that the game's played at, has been difficult for him, and the sheer physicality of it. The tempo of the game, he's just not used to playing at that.

"And then, of course, he played and he got concussed and played for 40 minutes not knowing where he was. I kept having to keep telling him his name's Tommy Oar and he's at Ipswich, he wasn't quite sure.

"And then he got injured again, he hurt his knee, but he's doing great in training, I'm delighted with him."

Since the concussion, Oar has made two appearances off the bench for McCarthy's side for a total of 10 minutes playing time.

The past two matches has seen Oar sit on the bench, and McCarthy concedes competition for places on the left has hurt the ex-Brisbane Roar youngster.

"I'm pleased with him, he's been unfortunate, and we've played well, of course," the former Republic of Ireland boss said.

"We've had Ryan Fraser playing there and Freddie Sears has gone and played there and been the star of the team from there, so it's been difficult for him to get back in."

With five games in the next 18 days for Ipswich, Oar may well get more opportunities.

Ipswich's next fixture is against Massimo Luongo's Queens Park Rangers on Boxing Day.