Blues boss Mick McCarthy says it wasn’t a hard decision to move skipper Luke Chambers back to right-back at Blackburn on Saturday but that it wasn’t a reflection on youngster Josh Emmanuel’s performances in the previous two games, more the additional qualities he believes his captain brings to his team.
Emmanuel, 19, had played against Brighton and Huddersfield prior to the international break, Chambers having moved into the centre alongside Christophe Berra while Adam Webster and Tommy Smith were both out injured.
With Webster available again after his hamstring problem, was it a tough to opt to leave the academy product on the bench at Ewood Park?
"No, because it was the right thing to do,” said McCarthy, whose defenders have recorded four cleans sheets in the last six games.
"It was hard because he’s played well, but it’s not because I’m not leaving Chambo out. He’s a real leader on the pitch, he’s my captain, the team captain, they all call him 'Skip', they all look up to him.
"Is he the best right-back in the league? No, but I tell you what, he’s different class for us. I don’t think I’m going to achieve anything more [without him in the team]. It's what you're going to attain, are you going to get anything better?
"Does a decision like that - and that’s what I’m paid for - does it create more problems than it solves? And I think it does. So no, it wasn’t a hard decision because he’s been different class, Chambo.”
McCarthy says it’s what his captain gives to the team overall rather than simply a matter of the position he's playing in.
"With players, it’s an emotional game,” McCarthy continued. "People sit in the stands and they have favourite players and they want them to play.
"It’s what they bring to the team, it’s what they bring to the whole team, not just that one position. And that’s with everybody.
"And Chambo brings a whole lot of stuff to the team. And over and above all that, he’s a proper bloke, he gets everybody else motivated, he’s great.”
Meanwhile, the U23s take on Colchester United at the Weston Homes Community Stadium this evening (KO 7pm).