Town skipper Carlos Edwards has hailed loanee Danny Higginbotham’s contribution since his recent arrival from Stoke but admitted: “He’s a pain in my butt.”
After the briefest of cameo appearances from the bench in the 2-1 home defeat by Charlton, the experienced defender played the entire 90 minutes in the away draws at Barnsley and Brighton, and then the defeat to Cardiff at Portman Road. Yesterday, manager Paul Jewell stated his intention to try to extend the 33-year-old's spell to three months.
The pair are teaming up for a second time and Edwards said: "I was with Danny at Sunderland and it’s good to have a familiar face alongside me again. It’s good to have someone with his experience.
"He’s a pain in my butt because he shouts at me. Luke Chambers also shouts at me a lot and it’s as if he is my dad the way he tells me to get my finger out.
"But it’s all done in a good, positive way and I don’t see any problem. Even though I’m the captain it doesn’t mean they can’t speak to me.
"Talking is a big part of the game and it’s important that everyone has their say. I am so laid back that I can sleep in water but Danny and Luke are both keeping me on my toes.”
As regards the more recent additions to the squad, midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, who signed a three-month short-term deal at the weekend, and keeper Stephen Henderson, who became the club’s eighth loanee when he joined from West Ham on Tuesday, he says the duo are establishing themselves in the group.
"The new boys have settled in really well and it’s important to have a strong squad,” said the Trinidadian.
"We all know how tough the Championship as a division is and having competition for places throughout the squad is something that you need.
"Nigel came in a few days ago and you can see in training already what qualities he has and you would think that he had been here ages!
"But all the lads are working hard ready for Saturday’s game against Hull and there’s a good spirit in the camp at the minute, despite our league position.
"Now we need to take that spirit and belief into the matches and start climbing up the table, which we know we are all capable of.”