Blues boss Mick McCarthy is delighted for Adam McDonnell and George Fowler that their loan spells with Aldershot are going well, the pair having extended their stints with the Vanarama National League leaders into a fourth month earlier today.
Former Debenham High School pupil Fowler, 19, has made 12 appearances and 20-year-old Dubliner McDonnell 17, scoring four goals, including last Saturday’s stunner as the Shots beat Wrexham 2-0 at home.
Defender Fowler has returned to the Shots side in recent weeks after a spell out, while McDonnell has been a regular throughout their time with the Hampshire club, which started at the end of August.
"George is doing OK,” McCarthy said. "They had a centre-half who was injured and he replaced him. Then he came back in.
"I’ve not spoken to [Shots manager] Gary Waddock about why, whether his centre-half is injured or whether George is just playing well. If he’s playing, that’s great for him.
"Adam’s done great, he got sent off the other day, apparently. Dissent was it? I wouldn’t have minded if it was for a tackle!
"But it depends what the dissent is sometimes. It’s all too easy when somebody just [says something] and the referee books you for dissent. Is he competing? Is he questioning a decision? Is it that he’s wanting to win more and he might never have questioned it?
"Somewhere along the line it’s not too bad when people are contesting decisions and having a bit of verbal because one thing I would have been critical of him [about] was that he wouldn’t have done it, so I’m not going to beat him up too much for doing that, I can assure you.”
McCarthy is pleased to see the Shots topping their table: "It’s amazing how verbal people become and the affect it has on them when they’re in a winning team and people start chipping, they’re all bubbling and boisterous. It’s great.
"I’m delighted for the pair of them. It’s really good because it’s difficult for them to get in the team here.
"If we take Emyr Huws and Tom Adeyemi and Skusey for Adam McDonnel then there’s Flynn Downes and Tristan Nydam coming through, and Bish, who is fit. Well, good for him, he’s done really well.”