Skuse Nominated for Championship Player of the Month - Ipswich Town News
Midfielder Cole Skuse has been nominated for the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month award for April.
The 28-year-old, who netted his first Blues goal during the 3-1 victory over Cardiff, is up against Derby’s Tom Ince, Benik Afobe of Wolves and Watford’s Adlene Guedioura for the gong.
Earlier in the season, Tyrone Mings won the award for September - when boss Mick McCarthy was also named Manager of the Month - and Daryl Murphy for December. This month's winner will be announced at 6am on Friday morning.
At Tuesday’s Town End of Season Dinner, Skuse picked up the John Kerridge Memorial Trophy for most improved player, manager McCarthy having been the man deciding the destination of that award, with his strike against the Bluebirds named the Goal of the Season.
Speaking earlier in the month, McCarthy said all sides require a steadying midfield influence such as Skuse: "I believe every team needs one and I think most have.
"Manchester United are at their best if it’s Michael Carrick who’s the one doing the sitting, the holding, the fetching, the carrying, the organising, the defending.
"And, of course, one of the best ones was Didier Deschamps, 'the water carrier', as Cantona called him, which I’m not sure whether is a derogatory term or a complimentary one.
"I’d prefer it to be a complimentary one because they’re the ones who’ll be in your team, week in, week out, day in, day out, penned in, certainties and then some of the others bring the flair to it.
"That comes in fits and starts but consistency is the key to any successful team.”
McKenna: It's Going to Be All Hands on Deck Saturday’s home game against Wrexham is the first of seven matches in 22 days for the Blues, a run which manager Kieran McKenna says will require all hands on deck for the next few weeks.
McKenna: It Will Be Good to See Them Both Blues boss Kieran McKenna says he’s looking forward to being reunited former Town pair Nathan Broadhead and Kieffer Moore when their Wrexham side visit at the weekend but hopes he doesn’t see the best of them on the pitch.
McKenna Happy International Players Had Brilliant Experiences Town boss Kieran McKenna says the players who have been away on international duty have unsurprisingly come back in a positive mood given the results some of their sides have achieved.
McKenna: We're All Happy Leif Has Signed New Deal Town boss Kieran McKenna is delighted that left-back Leif Davis has signed a new contract with the club, which runs to the summer of 2029, and says there’s plenty more to come from the 25-year-old.
McKenna: Squad in Really Good Health Blues boss Kieran McKenna says his squad is in really good health ahead of Saturday’s home game against Wrexham as Town go into a run of seven games in 22 days with Alex Palmer and Sammie Szmodics close to returns and Wes Burns having played a behind-closed-doors match during the international break.
U21s at Leicester, U18s Host Hammers Town’s U21s are in Premier League Cup action away against Leicester City at their Seagrave Training Ground this evening (KO 7pm), while the U18s host West Ham United in their version of the same competition at Playford Road on Saturday (KO 11am).
Davis Signs New Deal Left-back Leif Davis has signed a new contract with the Blues, running to the summer of 2029.