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Digby Set to Stay at Town
Tuesday, 5th Apr 2016 06:00

Town boss Mick McCarthy says he wants on-loan Barnsley defender Paul Digby to join the Blues on a permanent basis in the summer. Digby moved to Portman Road in January and has made two FA Cup starts and three sub appearances in the Championship.

McCarthy says the 21-year-old, who has another season left on his contract at Oakwell but with the proposed terms of a free transfer agreed when he signed on loan, has made great strides since moving to Suffolk.

The former England U19 and U20 international operated largely in central midfield until joining the Blues but McCarthy has played him as a centre-half both for the Town U21s and in his senior games.

“He’s done very well and my thoughts are that I’ve spoken to him, and I would like to do something with him and take him on in the summer,” the Town boss confirmed.

In addition to first-team regulars Tommy Smith, Christophe Berra and skipper Luke Chambers, still viewed primarily as a central defender despite having played at right-back for much of his career, the Blues have four centre-halves currently out on loan.

Summer signing Piotr Malarczyk is at Southend, Matt Clarke is at Portsmouth, Josh Yorwerth at Crawley and Joe Robinson at Woking.

“We’ll have to do something about that, we can’t take them all going forward,” McCarthy admitted. “But Diggers is a promising young centre-back, who can use the ball from the back and I think has really impressed.

“He’s improved, there’s no doubt, training with the first-team squad every day, and he’s starting to impress everybody.”

Malarczyk joined Southend at the start of last week for the remainder of the season but is yet to feature, however, McCarthy says it’s not his place to pick other people’s teams.

“Phil Brown took him in good faith, he wanted a centre-back but it’s down to him to pick his team, nobody could ring me up and say, ‘You’ve got to play him’, it doesn’t work like that.

“I know Phil, he’s a pal of mine. I’d much prefer it if he was playing, but it’s Phil’s team, not mine.”


Photo: Action Images



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chiddley added 06:51 - Apr 5
Lol
0

TractorCam added 07:22 - Apr 5
Just so he can be the next Henshall. Why would he even want to stay, won't get any game time and when he does not even in his preferred position!
8

prebsa added 07:32 - Apr 5
I don't personally want him to stay and don't think he is good enough for town. But why would he even want to say, Mick just the other day said how fantastic his back 4 has been over 3 years (lie!), so he is never going to get in ahead of them! Just like Parr couldn't get a game because he wasent part of Micks merry men in the untouchables club like douglas, chambers and a few others are!
12

Woodbridgian added 07:39 - Apr 5
Certainly looks like were planning for another season(s) in the Championship !
9

TimmyH added 08:24 - Apr 5
Guaranteed not to start due to the permanent faces in the defense and wouldn't even start in the midfield...why would he want to come here?
8

Elto added 08:38 - Apr 5
Players may go in the Summer, injuries, suspensions. Of course he has a chance.

-6

MattinLondon added 08:45 - Apr 5
He called him by his nickname.....half the job done
6

Cloddyseedbed added 08:49 - Apr 5
Unbelievable. I had hoped players with a bit more quality would be found and those found wanting this season will not. Looks like the same philosophy will be used next season too.
6

Cloddyseedbed added 08:53 - Apr 5
How many centre halfs do we need to fill 2 places, especially if the 2 are fit all season?
2

hector_clifford added 08:55 - Apr 5
I've got a feeling that Mick is looking to play him alongside Berra next season, and Tommy is going to miss out. It might make the centre of defence more balanced, and Berra would bring him on too.
-5

chenners17 added 09:38 - Apr 5
I would like to see us bring in someone fresh who is experienced in the championship but who isn't in the region of 30+ and near retiring! That would bring us a stronger partnership with smith or berra!
Clarke is also another option if we want to go down the younger talented route but haven't seen enough of digby to suggest he is better than what Clarke would be!
4

Knightsy added 10:32 - Apr 5
Oh Dear....Another Waste of Wages on the Town Books.

Like previous signings Henshall, Connolly, Coke, Malarczyk, Yorwerth, Henly, Toure , Stewart, Alabi
5

StuartBrett8 added 10:44 - Apr 5
Maybe Mick see's Digby as a decent utility player, Centre back, full back, and Central midfield?
1

pup12 added 10:59 - Apr 5
What a waste of time this is!why is MM making same mistakes.Another player playing out of position,square peg round hole!its just a permanent circle ,a player who hasn't set the world alight for us while on loan.Signed then forced to play out of positoin ,never gets any game time then released.Other teams around us buy or acquire decent players who immedeletly make a diffence to their side,then over take us in the promotion race.With the teams coming down from Premiership and teams coming up with their momentum we will find life tough enough without shooting ourselves in the foot again.Right back needed MM and creative midfielder who can score a few.Save the wage budget for those and not realising half way through season again that's what we need.Wake up!
5

iaintaylorx added 11:03 - Apr 5
Don't kniw, but to me, this sadly sounds like Mick will be in charge next season...
2

Lightningboy added 11:04 - Apr 5
We should be promoting from our own youth team,certainly as far as squad players are concerned.

Where is the motivation for our own kids if they've got virtually zero chance of being given a game in the first team?

Personally i'd love to see Burley,Klug and Magilton running the football side of things at this club.
3

Cakeman added 11:16 - Apr 5
Nothing against the chap at all as I admire anyone who tries hard to do well but if this is now the quality of player that we are hoping to secure then we had better start setting the sat nav to league one grounds.
3

BlueKush added 11:32 - Apr 5
He's 21, 6 foot 4+, has International youth honours and is learning a new position under a man who was an excellent centreback back in the day.

I wouldn't write him off yet, he'll surely be dominant in the air and with a bit more quality on the floor than what we currently have.

Mick's record is hit and miss, when he misses it's usually cheap and when he hits he really hits.

Common Diggers!
5

Knightsy added 11:39 - Apr 5
He's also a player that couldn't get the Barnsley Side BlueKush
3

1RWR added 11:44 - Apr 5
C'mon, the lad is only 21 with age on his side so please give him a chance.
Don't forget, Mings & Cresswell were a tad 'raw' when they came here so fingers crossed he may be ok.
As the saying goes 'worth a punt'!
0

prebsa added 11:51 - Apr 5
Difference is 1RWR Mings and Cresswell were both playing for their clubs in the lower leagues and doing well. Digby couldn't even get in the Barnsley team!
3

BlueKush added 12:00 - Apr 5
As a midfielder Knightsy.
0

Currie10 added 12:01 - Apr 5
Give him the summer to push on I guess - will have done him no harm working with our CB's this season. Had a lot of injuries the past four years - so a low risk signing that I don't mind at all.

Footy is a squad game, we need lads like this that won't be trouble around behind the scenes and can develop.

I thought Yowerth was class vs Man Utd but my friend at the Rovers game said he was bloody horrific for Crawley. So we'll have to see.

We'll know more after tonight and Saturdays games any rate whether we have any chance of getting back into the mix.
1

blueblood66 added 12:32 - Apr 5
If he is encouraging centre halfs to pass out from the back thats good news going forward
Yes?
2

dirtyboy added 12:35 - Apr 5
Young player, new position, can use the ball from defence, is this not exactly what we need to take the pressure off at the back?

Yes. Anyone can see that. Give him a chance to do that.
1


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