Town boss Paul Lambert believes midfielder Cole Skuse should have played in the Premier League ahead of the 33-year-old’s 250th appearance for the Blues away against the MK Dons on Tuesday.
Skuse joined Town in the summer of 2013 after leaving hometown club Bristol City and has been an almost ever-present in the middle of midfield since then.
"I think he’s done really well,” Lambert said. "As I said before, I wish I had Cole maybe when he was 25 or 26. He’s getting to that age where it does catch you at certain times but he’s started brilliantly.
"I say I wish I’d had him at 25 or 26 because I think he has so much to offer with his passing ability, which is second to none.
"I’ve just got him probably at the wrong age, even though he’s still playing really well for us.”
Lambert believes Skuse should have played at a higher level with former Reading boss Steve Coppell once having shown interest in taking him into the top flight when the Royals were in the Premier League.
"He should have done with his passing level, in my opinion,” Lambert said. "For one reason or another he didn’t, I don’t know why.
"I had some really good players that have worked under me with the same passing ability as Cole and those lads have played in the Premier League. So I don’t see why he shouldn’t have been that level of player.”
Skuse is contracted to the Blues until the end of the season with the club having an option for a further season and the midfielder has said he would be keen to sign another deal and that tentative talks have taken place.
Lambert says he’s not sure where things might be on that front: "I’m 100 per cent sure of his situation with everything. It’s not something I sit and look at, who’s got a long time left or anything like that. The important thing is that this football club has to get back out of the division, that’s the main aspect of it.
"Everything else will fall into place once they club is having success, everything will fall into place.”