By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions. We in turn value your personal details in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
McCarthy: Digby Part of First-Team Squad Tuesday, 5th Jan 2016 06:00
Town boss Mick McCarthy says new loan signing Paul Digby will be viewed as a first-teamer from the off, rather than as a player initially only involved with Mark Kennedy’s development squad.
The 20-year-old joined on loan from Barnsley for the rest of the season on Saturday and watched the 0-0 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor from the stands.
“I’ve had him here for a week, I’ve taken him with a view to being a first-team player, not to be anything else and if we can develop him and get something out of him then it’ll be a good signing,” McCarthy said.
Digby, who is 6ft 4in tall, has played most of his football up to now as a central midfielder and has also operated at right-back, but the Town boss sees him as a central defender.
He added: “I’m hoping he’s going to be a very good player for us, but we’ll see. He’s been with England for the U19s and U20s and I’m hoping he’s going to make a good centre-half with us, we’ll see.”
Born in Sheffield Digby came through the ranks at Oakwell and won their Most Promising Academy Player award in 2008.
He made his senior debut as a 16-year-old in September 2011 but totals only 11 starts and 14 sub appearances for the Tykes with his only games this season one League One start and two matches from the bench in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
Digby, who spent time on trial with Manchester United earlier this year, is contracted to Barnsley until the summer of 2017.
Photo: Action Images
Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
Have to trust MM with this . Clarke & Yorwerh seem to be progressing on loan and we will need defensive cover if Parr moves on and we pick up injuries . Also isn't it his time of year we Nick a player from Colchester on the cheap !
Well Mick certainly knows what makes a good centre half, after all he was a very good one himself during his playing days. Hopefully Mick will see Digby as someone who can make the grade either this year or next. The way that Berra is receiving heavy wallops just now I would think the addition of Digby should be welcomed.
Great , young talented footballer - Mick has good Barnsley connections , and a footballing centre back is a great thing to have - good luck Diggers - hope you make it at PR . Give the lad a chance - lets judge him in six months not as soon as he walks through the door
This seems strange, not good enough for barnsley, but good enough for man utd to take on trial?? Im sure theres more to this, maybe a falling out?? Either way good luck!
Central midfielder come central defender? Been a long time since we had a ball playing centre half. Looks like he'll start along side Mally on Saturday then.
I wish people would stop being negative about this type of signing. MM has a track record of identifying and developing lower league talent. I much prefer this low risk approach to buying expensive players looking for their last pay day. I liken it to getting a bargain off eBay / car boot sale etc. It's always those things that you value more than buying band new at full price.
All this nonsense about square peg in a round hole. Players don't get given a position at 8 years old and told they have to play there forever. Was Walky a square peg in a round hole towards the end of his career at town, don't think so. What about Richard Naylor, arguably far better at centre half for us. If someone has talent, they can fill a number of positions. They also have to fit into a team for it all to work.
A central midfielder who has played at right back , but who MM sees as a central defender. Do we need another central defender? Apart from the three who play on the pitch each week we also have Malarczyk, Clarke and Yorwerth on the books albeit some on loan.
Surely this is more a replacement for Parr rather than a genuine CB contender.
I hope this lad turns out to be a world beater but asked yourself why is he not playing for Barnsley i'm not saying he is but it could be a bad lad, it makes no sense that he is not playing for Barnsley now I wish him well and look forward to seeing him playing for the town
Good luck to the lad , I hope he does well it doesn't bode well though for our youngsters , Yorwerth must be thinking what has he got to do plays a blinder at old Trafford , then get sent out on loan and MM brings in someone with similar experience who goes straight into the first team squad!! Just saying
i think he hasnt quiet cut it as a center midfielder at barnsley hence why he isnt playing, how ever MM sees him as a 6ft 4 inch player who prob has reasanble foot skills and convert him to a centre half, to which neither berra or smith has decent foot skills at all. how ever he will need plenty of training to become a good center half but easier to do that then try and make him a frank lampard, i hope he does well
How many center half's do we need got beter playing for Portsmouth imo and what about malarczyk surly he warrants a chance first instead of someone who cant make the Barnsely team.
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
