Blues boss Mick McCarthy is backing Jonathan Douglas to add goals to his midfield. Town are without a goal in their last three games and have netted only eight times in their first 10 league matches, four of them in their opening day win against Barnsley.

Douglas, who joined the Blues from Brentford for a free transfer in the summer of 2015, scored three times last season but McCarthy says the eight-times-capped Republic of Ireland international is capable of grabbing more and has been unlucky not to open his account already this season.

“Yes, he’s had that happy knack of doing it, if you look throughout his career. He contributed last year and he got eight for Brentford the season before.

“He’s been unlucky as well. The goal against Norwich, he was onside and it should have counted. He gets in the box, he’s playing very well, Dougie.”

He added: “He got one that was disallowed again [against Brighton] and he was in challenging for a couple of headers. Dougie’s been great. If he keeps getting in there he’ll get his goals.”

With Douglas approaching 35, his birthday is in November, does McCarthy believe players can stay fitter later into their careers these days? “He’s remarkable, I’ve been amazed. I thought he was excellent the other night all around the pitch, he just puts himself in positions defensively, he gets in the box consistently.

“I think a lot of that goes unnoticed and he’s an example to any young player watching, the levels of fitness and endurance that he has and just that durability, he’s great.”

McCarthy continued: “He does everything that the other lads do in training. He’ll get some time off during the international break, unless he’s called up for Ireland for a cameo appearance, of course! I don’t know, maybe they will.

“He is one of the most uncomplicated, low maintenance, does-what-it-says-on-the-jar players that you’re ever likely to come across.

“He comes in, you don’t hear him around the place, you don’t see him around, he just plays and trains, he’s an absolute pleasure to have working for you.

“You ask him to do something he just goes ahead and does it. If you had lots of them like him [it would be great]. Actually we have, we’ve got lots of players like him.

"He’s coming up to 35, I don’t know what he’s taking I’ll have to go and check his bag.”

Joking, McCarthy added: “Actually, we had the drugs testers here on Monday, so I shouldn’t say that, should I!”

Photo: TWTD

Lightningboy added 10:49 - Sep 30 "Dougie can add goals from midfield" Why doesn't he already then? What's he waiting for? Just do it.
3

warkthelint added 12:04 - Sep 30 ..maybe..if you set the team up to play, score goals and move the ball forward and not just hoof it up in the air. Joke over..
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Michael11 added 12:10 - Sep 30 Delete.
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pagey69 added 12:23 - Sep 30 This did make me laugh... so I looked at the stats for this amazing threesome in midfield ... Skuse - Appearances 126
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jas0999 added 12:23 - Sep 30 Laughable spin.
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pagey69 added 12:25 - Sep 30 Bloody return button ... Skuse ... appearances 126 goals 1 Douglas appearances 40 goals 3 Bru appearances 43 goals 3 so in total 209 appearances and 7 goals . I reckon at that rate we could expect a goal from one of these by sometime in February
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martin587 added 12:38 - Sep 30 Mick,are you really on this Planet.Why all of a sudden should Douglas start scoring more goals.What have you done that's different.He will never score goals playing in a defensive position.Both Skuse and Douglas should never play in the same team,it's a waste of a position.Bishop should be playing as he is the only player fit at the moment with vision and can create a forward pass.Without him the front players will never get any service,and this is ONE of the reasons we don't score goals.

6

Burnzee1991 added 12:52 - Sep 30 I'm a fan of Mick, I'm a fan of the current team, I think we have a lot of positives but this has to be a joke?
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Orraman added 13:29 - Sep 30 "Dougie is remarkable" quotes MM. I would say Matt Holland was excellent and Jim Magilton was excellent.......but remarkable belongs to the likes of Johnny Wark. Jonathan Douglas is a run of the mill Championship player but like Chambers is such a favourite that he is untouchable. When Tony Pulis last week achieved his 1000th game as manager he said that one of the next to achieve that milestone would be Mick McCarthy but it would probably take another 4 years. Please don't let that milestone happen here with Chambers, Berra and Douglas stil here and Freddie playing his 124th game without a goal stuck out on the left wing.

4

Portman51 added 14:45 - Sep 30 Never mind Marcus Evans with a P45, I'd watch out for the men in white coats if you keep coming out with this sort of nonsense Mick. He may have been decent player once, but now he's totally past it. Please someone post a "Douglas-cam" on one of his performances to show how rarely he wins a tackle or header, plays a pass to anyone other than Bart, Scuse or the back four, or moves the ball forward. It's incredible to watch him shuffling aimlessly around behind the centre circle as the game passes him by. Perhaps someone could lend him a few videos of Holland or Magilton, better still Muhren, Thijssen or Wark, so he gets some idea of what playing in midfield is supposed to be about. As it is he's simply a waste of a shirt who's holding back the development of young players with genuine talent. The idea that he (or Scuse or Bru for that matter) is going to score goals on a regular basis is laughable to anyone with eyes to see, except the manager of course.

6

RaymondovicBlue added 15:21 - Sep 30 OK - First off - I've only seen the TV matches, but do listen to Radio Suffolk over the radio. and the Summarisers comments there. I agree that Douglas is NOT the future, and nor has been a match-winner - but we can say that about most of our squad on most occasions this year ... However, are we being fair ? I repeat - I've not seen many games, but I have listened to commentary ... Radio commentary mentioned Douglas making runs in to the box several times last match ... possilby on at least ten occasions?? - and with only one striker this is exactly what he should be doing ... AND yes, he COULD have had two goals already but for tight (one at least was clearly wrong) decisions. So he is getting into the box regularly... However, Even that would STILL not make him the future, but he is not our worst performing player by far so far this season... it might be his last, and I'd also prefer him not to play every game with the other options we have now in midfield, but ... give the guy a break ... he isn't as bad as some make out this year .... and Mick isn't just playing him as a fourth centre back from what the radio commentary says? Please don't down vote me if the commentary is wrong .... We need to do better in MOST areas of the pitch, and yet I am in the minority to agree that Douglas CAN add goals from midfield ... but so could all the others!!!

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Vizslaraner added 16:05 - Sep 30 Just fell off my chair! He needs to learn to run first! All he brings is nuisance value and a body in the centre of the pitch. Brentford got rid for good reason
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phillo added 16:30 - Sep 30 Hahahahahahahaha ..... oh wait ..... he's serious 🙄😂😩🙄😂😩
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Seasider added 16:36 - Sep 30 Raymondvicblue.Have marked you up as you make a reasoned statement. Personally I have the misfortune of attending most games at home,and have only missed half a dozen in about 50 years. Douglas certainly isn't the future,and although he is a bit better than previously his performances,in my opinion,leave a lot to be desired.Yes he tries hard like they all do;but I am afraid that age is catching up on him and he is a bit ponderous. He is clearly one of Micks favourites,as he describes him as excellent.If he is then Mick doesn't set very high standards,and to say he would like more like him beggars belief. Perhaps that is why his team are 9 points from the top;but only 7 from the bottom as things stand

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dannyrr added 17:20 - Sep 30 Unfortunately the more town fans berate Douglas then the less likely it is for MM not to play him. MM will continue to play the same defensive midfielders every game he would rather hold on for a draw than go for a win and punish awful or weak sides. Which is why we very rarely score more than one goal and every game he will take off the best players in order to defend. Give the youngsters a chance - dozzell and Emmanuel are capable and the others we'll never know unless injuries force his hand.

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Woodbridgian added 21:06 - Sep 30 funniest thing I've read for ages maybe MM going tell us a joke every Friday
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