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Douglas: Only a Matter of Time Before We Turn Things Around - Ipswich Town News

Town midfielder Jonathan Douglas says he and his colleagues are desperate to get back to work after the international break.

Douglas & Co head for his previous club Blackburn tomorrow seeking to end a run of four games without a win or a goal and he is confident they can reverse that trend at Ewood Park.

The Irishman, who will be 35 next month, admitted: "The result against Huddersfield is one we want to get over.

"We’ve had a nice break and got away from football for a while. I went back to Ireland and spent a couple of days with my family there, which was good, but we’re all back now and raring to go.”

Boss Mick McCarthy has already acknowledged he is in the midst of his toughest time since taking charge at Portman Road but Douglas believes it won’t be long before Town turn the corner and start to climb the Championship table.

He added: "The run we are on is in the back of our minds and of course it’s very worrying. But we’ve got the lads who are capable of getting us out of this and I believe with the ability that we have in the squad that we will.

"It’s just a matter of time — or a little bit of luck here and there — and it will turn around for us. I’m not worried really because I know what we have in the team and in the dressing room and that we can put a run together.”

Boss McCarthy has been a target for the fans’ anger, with some even calling for him to be sacked, and Douglas added: "They have a right to have a go at us and it’s up to us on the pitch. The manager works his butt off every day of the week and it’s up to us on the pitch to get the results that are not happening at the moment.

"The manager is taking a lot of flak because he’s the manager but before he came here I think the club was looking at League One and he’s turned it around. To be fair to him he’s done it on such a low budget that he’s done remarkably well to be honest.

"If he’s getting the flak it’s down to us to pull him out of it. A lot of the lads who are playing here owe him a lot and I’m one of them. He’s given me an opportunity to play for a club like Ipswich and I’ll be doing everything I can to get us turned around.”

Douglas welcomed the second international break of the season when he said: "A break is always nice — I’m not getting any younger — and it was good to get away.

"I’ve got a young daughter back home in Ireland so it was nice to spend some time with her. It can be difficult when you are a long way from family.

"My little girl lived in London until the start of the school year when she moved back to live in Ireland. Since then I haven’t been seeing her as much as I did before and it’s the same as Christophe Berra with his little girl [who lives in Edinburgh].

"But we all know it’s part and parcel of being a footballer because it’s a short career and you need to give everything while you’re in it. Christophe probably thinks the same but I suppose it’s the same for every player.

"We’re away from home a lot and we travel a lot but it’s a great job that we have, it’s a great life and we’re very privileged. It’s a sacrifice but we play football for a living, which is every young kid’s dream. It was my dream and it still is!”

Town are boosted by the fact that players like David McGoldrick, Adam Webster and the on-loan Jonny Williams, who has yet to feature since joining from Crystal Palace for a fourth time, are all nearing a return to full fitness.

Douglas added: "Jonny’s looking really good. He’s back in full training with us and the international break means there are a few more of the injured players getting involved again. The squad is getting bigger, which is great because we will need everybody for the push.

"Didzy and Webby are back training as well, so with Jonny it’s three big players, three big characters, for us. They are three very talented players that we need for the squad. It’s a small squad so to have three players like that returning can only help us.”

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