Bristol City boss Lee Johnson says he can see former Robins midfielder Cole Skuse having a role to play back at Ashton Gate once he hangs up his boots. On Saturday, Skuse, 30, will return to his hometown club, where he spent 17 years until joining the Blues in the summer of 2013, for the first time with Town.

"Obviously, that's a long way off and Cole is the sort who can probably play until he's at least 35,” Johnson told the Bristol Post.

“But put it this way, if we fast-forwarded 10 years and I was still head coach at the club and Cole Skuse retired, he'd be the perfect candidate to come back in a management capacity.

"I say that because of his personality, his values and the fact he is local and is a Bristol City supporter with the club's best interests at heart. The more coaches and people with that mindset we can get involved in the club, the better."

Johnson, who remains in regular contact with his former team-mate, added: ”As a player, Skuse is very consistent in his levels of performance and that is why managers like him.

“Now that I'm a coach, I can see how important it is to have certain players you can trust to go out there and implement the game plan.

"Skuse is one of those generals and he has turned into a really good communicator and a trustworthy Championship player with experience, fitness and height. He ticks a lot of the boxes you need to be a player at this level.

"This will be a big game for him and I'm sure he will be begging and borrowing as many of the Ipswich complementary tickets as he can for friends and family.

“We have to make sure the Cole Skuse Appreciation Society is in the Ipswich end of the ground and not in the Bristol City sections."

Photo: TWTD

therein61 added 17:55 - Dec 2 Kidnap him Saturday and keep him
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Surco72 added 18:06 - Dec 2 He can come back when he is retired 😂 don't want him as a player then ?
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phillo added 18:23 - Dec 2 Really don't get the anti Skuse thing ..... genuinely puzzles me. Incredibly solid/reliable DCM who does all the "grunt" work - winning ball back from oppo, helping out in defence & providing the "link" in giving the ball to our (so called!) creative players. Every team has one, every team needs one & we have one of the best/most consistent and n my opinion. Has faults yes - doesn't score enough goals (but to be fair nor has most of our team bar Murphy over last few years!!!) - but we miss him m when he's out. Still each to their own I guess .....

11

OwainG1992 added 18:27 - Dec 2 Agree with you Phillo. Skusey is a very solid player for this division. Just people know Mick rightly trusts him so they turn on him.
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ArnieM added 18:53 - Dec 2 Phillo: That's because they're thick and know sod all about the game. Every side needs a Skuse "Here he is", type of player in the team.
5

Wacko added 19:23 - Dec 2 I wish my Ipswich ticket was 'complimentary', all it does is laugh at me and go "hahaha you paid how much for me to watch THAT??" (in other words there's a typo...)
0

Daleyitfc added 19:45 - Dec 2 He's crap. Nothing more to say.
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Jonnosdreadlocks added 20:08 - Dec 2 Skuse is awful and along with Chambers MM undroppable. His so called " Grunt work and link" is a myth he can't even do that and his goal return is shameful. Midfielders need to do more than tackle or being solid. He typifies the way we play under MM, boring, negative, hoofball.
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PhilTWTD added 20:26 - Dec 2 Wacko Missed it in the original quotes. Amended.
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BrettenhamBlue added 22:16 - Dec 2 As ArnieM has said, he is a needed member of the team. But Johnson calling him a Midfield General is a bit of a stretch. Kevin Foley was a true Midfield General, and he was a different kind of player entirely. A Midfield General dictates the tempo and pace during the match. They slow things down when needed and are the kings of precise pinpoint passing. Skuse is more of a grafter who likes to get stuck in. He grinds things out in midfield.

3

Tractorboy1985 added 22:17 - Dec 2 Gentleman he may be but good footballer he is not! Said it for years.. tell me what he offers? 1 goal.. out of his depth against proper championship midfield players.. running around like a headless chicken at times! Whilst mr skuse remains a certain starter in the Ipswich 11 we will never be promoted! Yes you have to have balance in a midfield but Jonny Williams must be looking on thinking 'oh my god.. how ain't I in this side'

3

battyblue added 06:23 - Dec 3 Skuse is average,Kevin Foley is much better and showed it when aloud to play by the great (look at me i am a great manager McCarthy) but for some reason unknown to me he didn't want him in team perhaps he was not a proper bloke. Good luck for today to all
4

Cakeman added 08:20 - Dec 3 As I have seen it since the day Skuse arrived, he is a spoiler i.e. Breaks up play which is fine if he does anything with the ball once he has won it. Sadly his failing is that he does not look forward enough and seldom feeds the players in front. Consequently he goes backwards or at best sidewards. He is certainly consistent but offers little and this is highlighted more because of the lack of influential players around him.

2

ssmith added 10:29 - Dec 3 Skuse is are most consistent outfield player , sure he lacks the cutting pass but if he had it he'd be playing premier league ,
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sgtlargent added 13:44 - Dec 3 This love-in is getting a bit much now, we get it Skuse used to play for Bristol City Zzzzzzz
0

Michael11 added 17:34 - Dec 4 Why wait until he's retired? I'll happily drive him there in the morning.
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OldClactonBlue added 21:02 - Dec 4 If Skuse was as good as some of those above apparently believe he wouldn't need Douglas beside him every game. True he does break up the opposition play but as already pointed out he does very little positive when he does get the ball.
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