Boss Mick McCarthy believes former Town skipper Grant Leadbitter is capable of playing in the Premier League. The 28-year-old, who played for McCarthy early in his career at Sunderland, is back at Portman Road with Middlesbrough this afternoon.
The Town boss says Leadbitter, now the captain at the Riverside, is having an excellent season with the Teessiders: "He’s got double figures, hasn’t he? Ten and six of them penalties.
"He’s got a terrific shot on him, people will know him from being here anyway.
"Maybe he didn’t have the same success as he’s enjoying back in the North-East, which is his home. I had him as a kid at Sunderland, he always had ability and he’s thriving this year.”
Does he believe the former England U21 international has what it takes to play at the highest level?
"Yes, I think he’s done remarkably well from being a kid at Sunderland when I was there and on the fringes, he was in the reserve team as it was then,” he recalled.
"He’s gone on and had a really good career for himself. I think he’s made himself a good player.”