Cole Skuse’s role as Town’s unsung hero is in danger of becoming a thing of the past with the revelation that he is out on his own as European football’s number one interceptor.
When it comes to intercepting and winning the ball Skuse’s statistics are more impressive than those of players, among them some of the world’s finest, in the Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, the Bundesliga in Germany, Serie A in Italy and France’s Ligue 1 — the top five domestic leagues in the continent.
Stats show that Skuse has 62 interceptions to his credit this season, which not only puts him ahead of Championship rivals Curtis Davies (Hull), Sol Bamba (Cardiff), Jack O’Connell (Sheffield United) and Adam Reach (Sheffield Wednesday) but of every other player in the afore-mentioned leagues.
Upon hearing the figures for the first time Skuse, one of the game’s most modest performers and whose present Town deal is due to expire at the end of the season, laughed: "Really? Does that mean I’m in the running for the next Ballon d’Or? Surely it’s more than deserving of a new deal, isn’t it?
Ipswich Town star Cole Skuse has made MORE interceptions this season than ANY player from the top leagues in Europe! 🤜 🔥@Official_ITFC #itfc pic.twitter.com/0Ybxuw5Srk
— Sportdec (@SportdecApp) December 12, 2017
"But seriously, it’s a nice thing to be recognised for because it’s something I’m asked to do, protect the back four, so to see things like that is nice.
"Maybe a lot of what I do goes unnoticed at times but the gaffer and the other lads will say ‘Well done on such-and-such’ so I know they see it.
"If I’m asked to do that by the manager and he and the lads are noticing it, that’s enough for me. I’m definitely not one to go and score 25 goals a season so I’ve got to do something else to contribute.
"It’s always been part of my game. I’ve never been a midfielder to go and score loads of goals, I’ve always been more of a deep-lying type so stuff like that is nice to see.
"We’re big on stats these days. Every Monday they are on the board from the weekend game. If I see the interceptions are up I’m buzzing.
"Even the academy lads have two or three areas of analysis, whereas I don’t think I saw anything like that until I was about 25. It’s not just the senior players, the young lads are getting it every week as well and it has become a massive part of the game.
"I’m usually quite high when it comes to passes completed but I’m pleasantly surprised to be top for interceptions. I thought that might be more of a defender’s thing but I’ll definitely take it.”
When it was suggested Skuse’s team-mates might start calling him The Interceptor he replied: "I’ve been called far worse so I’ll take that. The lads will have something to say about it too. It will all start off as a nice gesture — ‘Well done Skusey’ — but it will soon turn into them taking the absolute piss and me getting caned.
"I really don’t mind if I don’t get noticed. I’m nearly 32 and I’ve played the same role for my entire career. If I’m not the one they’re singing songs about it doesn’t bother me at all.
"I’m part of an 11-man side and if they’re scoring four or five goals every week, and I’m in a winning team, that’s enough for me. As long as when I go home my little girl and my little boy are singing daddy’s name, and not someone else’s, that’s alright.”
Skuse has netted just twice in his 190 appearances for Town. What did he make of the ‘I was there when Skusey scored’ T-shirts to mark his rare strikes? He said: "Yep, that was another piss-take! If I’m just there to have the piss taken out of me that’s fine, no problem. I can promise I give as good as I get, I hold my own, and I’m sure a lot of the lads would vouch for that.”