Town boss Mick McCarthy says midfielder Cole Skuse is one of the best signings he has ever made, free or otherwise. The 29-year-old faces his former club Bristol City for the first time at Portman Road this afternoon having joined the Blues after leaving his hometown club following their relegation in the summer of 2013.
"I’ve signed a lot of them on frees, let me tell you!” McCarthy said when quizzed on whether Skuse was his best ever free signing.
"He is one of the most consistent that I’ve ever signed. And one of the best on a free transfer, or for anything, forget the free transfer. He’s one of the best players.
"You can only judge them at what club you’re at anyway and what you’re doing, what level you’re at. I guess this has been my level for most of my career and he’s one of the best players I’ve signed, he’s been terrific.”
With Luke Hyam having been out since pre-season after undergoing knee surgery and Teddy Bishop and Kevin Bru sidelined since the first week of the campaign proper with hamstring problems, McCarthy’s central midfield options have been limited and the Town boss was pleased to see Mauritian international Bru return at Old Trafford.
"Absolutely,” he said. "When we started the season and I’d got Skusey, Luke Hyam, Bish, Kevin Bru, Tabby, who plays in there as well, then we took Giles Coke, and we seemed to have loads of players in the middle of the park.
"But all of a sudden Dougie [Jonathan Douglas], because I also brought in Dougie, and Skusey have been the mainstays and they’re the ones that have been fit, so it’s nice to have another one back in Kevin Bru.”
Bristol City have only won one game since returning to the Championship having finished first in League One last season, but that solitary victory was away against Middlesbrough, which McCarthy says shows that they oughtn’t to be taken lightly.
"They are a real attacking threat because of the way they play,” he added. "They push both wing-backs up, the two strikers up, they have Luke Freeman as a free player in behind and it poses a threat to any team.
"But all shapes do, however you play. And it’s who plays their way the best I think that generally wins the game.”