Blues boss Mick McCarthy says Polish defender Piotr Malarczyk is up to speed and ready to play Championship football.

The 24-year-old joined Town from his hometown club Korona Kielce, where he was skipper, in August for a bargain fee of around £8,500 and has so far made one start, the Capital One Cup defeat at Manchester United, and two substitute appearances.

In September, McCarthy felt the Pole would need time to adjust to the Championship which he said is very different defensively from the Polish Ekstraklasa league.

Now, the Town manager says Malarczyk is ready to be involved as and when required.

“Yes, he is, and he needed to [adjust] because of the difference in pace and tempo from what he was used to,” McCarthy said.

“It was sad at Forest that he blocked the ball on the line and it still ended up somebody’s feet because it was a great bit of a defending. He’s doing well.”

McCarthy is confident that Malarczyk, who the Polish press reported was close to being given a first international call-up in September, has what it takes to break through and become a regular at Town.

“Yes, he can. I’m glad for the current back four that we’ve stemmed the tide a little bit because we conceded a lot of goals, as many as most, to be honest.

“But they’ve been solid those boys in the main, so it was always going to be difficult for him to get in, and even more so as he wasn’t really up to speed with the game here.

"But he is now and he’ll be OK, and if he gets his chance he’ll be fine.”

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Dissboyitfc added 07:00 - Nov 12 not a chance for him i am afraid all the while MM's favourites are fit to play,he will go out on loan next, sad but true. Lets just hope the results keep coming!
8

DanLyles added 08:12 - Nov 12 The favourites thing frustrates me. He is going to have play so well to get an opportunity and then keep his place. For me, this is summed up by Parr who I rate as possibly our best full back but who remains on the bench. You very rarely see Parr beaten on the ground or in the air and when going forward he looks like the midfielder that he used to be. I am worried he will leave if not given a regular spot at LB or RB.

15

Pilgrimblue added 09:09 - Nov 12 With the FA Cup and fixtures twice a week they'll both get their chances and hopefully give MM selection problems. We need a strong squad for second half if we're tohave a chance of making play-offs again.
3

BlueMachines added 09:27 - Nov 12 Couldn't agree more with the first 2 comments. If we got an injury and Malarczyk does get a game (the only way he is likely to get an opportunity), he could play superbly, and by MM's own admission, he wouldn't go against plan A and would remain loyal to the current defence and Malarczyk would be dropped immediately. Parr is all the evidence needed for that. On a positive note, it is good that Malarczyk seems up to speed and ready to go. Strength in depth is never a bad thing.

5

DurhamTownFan added 09:35 - Nov 12 I didn't think he played too badly at Old Trafford, but like the others above I don't think the lad has much of a chance with MM's favouritism. While I agree that every team needs a settled defence, I also think that sometimes players need to be taken out of the firing line. It must be very stressful playing in a defence which simply lumps clear at the first opportunity (because if often gives possession straight back to the opposition, so you're back organising your defence again). I do think though, that as we near Christmas and January, we will see more rotation. I wouldn't put my house on us being in the FA cup fourth round, but the league games are more frequent in the new year. Let's hope Parr makes himself undroppable!

2

Lathers added 09:58 - Nov 12 We've never really replaced the void left by Micky Stockwell. Until we do, I can't see us competing at the top end.
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cats_whiskers added 09:58 - Nov 12 Up to speed! How does McCarthy know this? The boy has spent his time hardly involved Or Has “Gym'll Fixed it” Is he fitted with GPS and it bleeps if he goes over 30mph Did he win a 100 metre sprint against Malcolm Webster And McCarthy thought “WOW” (that'll do for me) With him and Bialkowski and their involvement with the first team (They are Poles apart from the rest) it appears.

0

GiveusaWave added 10:23 - Nov 12 It's positive news. We have another player fully fit and ready for action. He's got no chance with Chambers ahead of him in the rb position though
1

theipswichman added 10:37 - Nov 12 Every ones mentioning the 'Mccarthy Favourites' however this lad is a centre back, our Centre backs are Tommy and Christophe, there isn't many players who would break into that partnership. I can see the argument about Parr instead of Knudsen or Chambers but our Cb's are very good and it is a difficult position to get into.
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TimmyH added 10:52 - Nov 12 'Ready to go' - yep straight out on loan! or can you 'go' sitting on the bench? (AT BEST).
2

MattinLondon added 11:37 - Nov 12 @theipswichman By what measure do you class both of our Centre-Backs as very good?
1

TR11BLU added 11:52 - Nov 12 “But they've been solid those boys in the main, so it was always going to be difficult for him to get in Really Mick, we kept clean sheets against 'powder puff' Bolton and 'havent scored in six' Cardiff... Even shot shy Rotherham got two. Our defensive record this season is poor and as stated in pretty much every post above, it wouldnt matter how long it continued. Mick is blinkered and would not change his back five.....it would be seen as giving in to fan power. Anyway, theyre all five, different class

4

Cheshire_Blue added 13:45 - Nov 12 Anyone who rates Parr clearly didn't see the first half at Hull or has little idea of what makes a good defender. To be fair, Knudsen wasn't much better which is probably why two goals came down our left side.
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masetheace added 14:58 - Nov 12 What a miserable load of so called supportrers we have on here in the main . Please p--s off and "support " someone else
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DanLyles added 15:32 - Nov 12 @Cheshire Blue, Parr played left midfield against Hull not in defence; he played for 45 minutes and the whole team played badly. Hardly the best game to assess his credentials as a full back.
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murraybrunning added 17:56 - Nov 12 We've never replaced the void left by Micky Stockwell??????? There was a lad called Wilnis who did ok for a few years
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battyblue added 19:55 - Nov 12 Most likely been taught to get rid of the ball as quickly as possible with a hoof the length of the pitch and never attempt to pass the ball out of defense. Hope to see him soon but cannot see it happening i am afraid.
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carsey added 21:28 - Nov 12 macetheace calm down just because people are saying things you don't like you don't have to be abusive. We're all entitled to a point of view and it doesn't make us any less supporters of the club it's just some of us aren't happy with McCarthy.
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blueherts added 09:25 - Nov 13 Looks a decent Right back to me - might overlap , cross keep the ball on the deck - who knows ! Hey good to hear - There needs to be real competition at the back - I rated Matt Clarke but seems he is now 'unused' abit at Pompey - Mick knows best .......TR11BLU , - Whilst I agree we have gifted some goals this year the two against Rotherham were pretty decent strikes
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