Town boss Mick McCarthy is delighted that Jonathan Douglas has got his name on the scoresheet in recent games with too few goals having come from midfield in recent seasons.
The Blues' engine room contributed only 12 goals during 2014/15 but with Ryan Fraser on four, Douglas on two and Kevin Bru, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Jay Tabb all on one, this year’s midfield should surpass that total before this campaign has hit its halfway mark.
Douglas, who joined the Blues on a free transfer from Brentford in the summer, scored his first Town goal in the 5-2 win at Rotherham before the international break and opened his Portman Road account during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Wolves.
"I think he’s great, Dougie,” McCarthy said. "He gets about the pitch, he does his shift and he has got a goal in him. I knew that when I signed him. I think he’s playing very well for us.”
Speaking at the weekend, Douglas, 34, revealed that McCarthy has encouraged him to get forward more regularly of late with the balance of the Town team having changed in recent games.
"To be fair we had two wingers [Fraser and Ainsley Maitland-Niles] on the pitch so we had two sitters," the Town boss added.
"Now we’ve got Kevin Bru playing a bit narrower we’ve got three midfield players and Freddie Sears with a bit more of a licence to roam, and he’s been great.
"Freddie’s relishing that role and he’s had more chances than anybody in games, I think. The fact that he’s not playing up front hasn’t meant he’s not getting chances.
"Freddie’s been brilliant, he’s been great. But Dougie’s got a bit more licence to get forward because Skusey’s sitting.”