Town boss Mick McCarthy says midfielder Jonathan Douglas has been excellent from the moment he joined the Blues on a free transfer from Brentford in the summer.

The 34-year-old has now made 16 starts and three sub appearances and scored his first two goals for the Blues in the back-to-back Rotherham and Wolves games last month.

“Jonny’s been excellent from walking through the door,” McCarthy said. “He’s another one that’s a really good character, is low maintenance, just comes in, does his job and understands the game.

“He’s old enough to understand the game, of course. He does his job, he’s just what it says on the tin, Jonny.

“He’s 34 but he outruns every player every week on the stats. The distance he covers tells you something. But he’s a clever footballer and the third goal at Charlton summed him up.

“Brett Pitman left it but he was aware of where Murph was and picked him out for his second. Delighted with Jonny, he’s great.”

Douglas came into the team soon after signing for the club with the Blues short of central midfield players as Kevin Bru joined Luke Hyam and Teddy Bishop in the opening weeks of the season.

But not everyone immediately took to the former Irish international, reminds McCarthy: “He was an easy one to pick on because he’d just walked in and Kevin Bru got injured and he’s a fans’ favourite.

“Suddenly we weren’t winning games and Dougie was getting it in his ear hole. Let’s clear all that up, let’s not beat around the bush, that is just the way it was.

“Then Dougie scored up at Rotherham and he’s been in the team and he got another goal against Wolves. He’s been great all the time, he’s played very, very well.

“We’re a fickle lot, all of us, aren’t we? When it’s going well, he’s great. Let’s hope that continues.”

Photo: Action Images

sidtheswan added 06:18 - Dec 8 A quality addition to our squad . Shame he's not 5 years younger.
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Mr_Evans added 06:27 - Dec 8 Tabby 2.0
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bluearmy84 added 07:15 - Dec 8 thats quality mcarthy tells it how it is and yes the town fans are fickle!!!! douglas will get at least 6 goals from midfield and thats wot weve been crying out for because skuse rarely scores. fans dont seem to like the unfashionable players and get on their cases you have to analyse the whole game what these players do without the ball as much as with it
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GiveusaWave added 07:35 - Dec 8 Douglas is a top quality addition to the side. He adds a goal threat from midfield that we haven't seen for some time. An excellent free transfer, which shows the system can work.
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rfretwell added 08:10 - Dec 8 Ok Douglas is gradually winning the fans over and surprisingly puts in the most mileage in tue absence of Hyam. But neither he nor Scuse have lots of pace which is what Bishop has in spades.
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DurhamTownFan added 08:11 - Dec 8 Amazed at how positive these story comments are given the criticism he's got from posters on this site (especially after Fridays game). Are we all just idiots who believe anything MM says? I'm certain that a fit Bishop or Bru goes back in the team but until then I think Douglas is the best we have.
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bluearmy84 added 08:17 - Dec 8 yeah bru is decent. but douglas playing well so hes gonna keep these boys out its down to them to get fit and playing we can all wish for bishop to get playing but thats not gonna be happening anytime soon and hes far from the finished article by a long shot
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marco007 added 08:26 - Dec 8 Thought our midfield of Douglas and Skuse was completely overrun against Bro. There are no short, clever forward passed as it is either pass backwards or lump it upfield. We can bully teams but never outplay them and our current tactics will only get you so far, as Friday proved.
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Garv added 09:31 - Dec 8 How very smug of you Mick. Whether it was because of Douglas' ability or because of the horrible defensive role he was given alongside Skuse, Douglas was not a good a good fit in our midfield. Since being given more license to get forward he has shown his worth with runs into the box and a couple of goals.
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Daleyitfc added 09:33 - Dec 8 Douglas is past it and well short of the quality needed at this level : McCarthy has no idea of what is happening on the pitch in front of him, seeing all his favourites as being 'excellent' when they are dreadful ; he needs to go now.
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Pilgrimblue added 10:00 - Dec 8 He may run around but for me its without much purpose esp when playing along side Skuse. If he's essential in forward position then great but NOT in defence as he lacks pace to cover quicker midfielders like Borough had. MM needs to revert to 442 as it showed on Friday when Skuse was overrun and while Sears tries I'd much prefer him up front with Murphy. That means benching Pitman but its the only way against better sides. Desperste forFraser Bru and Bish to return as bench is looking very weak

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muccletonjoe added 10:05 - Dec 8 You are easily pleased mick
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Smithy added 10:11 - Dec 8 The criticism of Douglas was down to Micks tactics. Play him alongside Skuse and it simply doesn't work, they are too similar if told to both sit. Play him in a three or tell him to get forward more and he's a different player and has been really good the last month or so. Was it not Douglas himself who asked for more licence to get forward, which in turn asks the question is Mick being too negative?

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Lightningboy added 10:17 - Dec 8 Never doubted Douglas as a decent signing ( yeah,shame he's not 5 years younger)..for me though Skuse is the one that seriously needs a kick up the arse..some of his performances are so lame - he actually sets up more chances for the opposition than us.
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MattinLondon added 10:25 - Dec 8 Players like Skuse and Douglas aren't bad players but they both lack that certain quality which Magilton, Dyer and Holland had in their lockers which gives the team three points rather than one. I don't think they are helped by the fact that the back four are all awful on the ball - if they could actually carry the ball out of defence maybe both could play up the pitch a bit further.

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flimflam added 10:28 - Dec 8 Douglas has been improving of late but was poor and went missing v Boro I am afraid
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terryf added 10:54 - Dec 8 Agree, Douglas is a much better player going forward and will score goals. Totally disagree with the criticism of Skuse. He does alot of the dirty work for the Team and would be the first name on my Team Sheet (probably is Mick's too). We still lack that creativity in midfield though which a fit Bru or Bishop can give us. The main problem is defence with too many mistakes being made and players out of position and please can we see Parr at full-back (either one will do!!) A fit McGoldrick and Fraser will also gives us some extra quality, something we lacked on friday night. Perhaps that will also provide the opportunity for the Manager to play Sears down the middle. I sometimes think he needs to come up in the stands and watch the game from the supporters point of view!!!

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TimmyH added 11:13 - Dec 8 Yes he has improved after again Mick playing him somewhat out of position (yes another player). Looks like he'll probably score more BUT what I want to know will he retain his place once Frazer, Bru and Bish recover? - personally feel he is already one of Micks favourites and will take some budging but is he the future for our midfield?. Agree also Skuse needs to kick start himself again after performing quite well the last few months of last season he's returned to being average Joe once again.

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jas0999 added 12:01 - Dec 8 Sorry, but I don't see him as a quality addition. Maybe for a mid table side, but found out against the top teams, where he has been very poor. Won't get us promoted but adequate.
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BigHibbs added 12:05 - Dec 8 I think he's great in a 3 which some people seem to not realise mm plays ! Usually maitland tucked inside with Doughie and skuse ! But in a 2 with skuse very poor combo
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essexboy added 12:13 - Dec 8 He is far better than Scuse and has goals in him,but he is still not the answer in midfield.We need Bishop and Hyam back ASAP,and please MM change the RB position.
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SouperJim added 12:27 - Dec 8 Pull the other one Mick, he hasn't been excellent from the moment he walked through the door. He's been much better recently because he's now playing further forward. Before that he was getting it in the ear hole because you were playing him too deep and his performances were toilet as a result. Still, credit where it's due, you've fixed that one. Please can we now do something about all the other players you're playing out of position?

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Wickets added 14:23 - Dec 8 And Douglas getting fitter has helped, he might be outrunning the other midfield players now Mick but not when he first came in, me thinks.
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Seasider added 16:35 - Dec 8 bluearmy84,did you watch the game on Friday as he was anonymous. Yes probably ok against the weaker teams;but not a match for Leadbitter and co in Boro midfield as both him and Skues are too slow against the better teams.This is probably why Brentford got rid as he is now 34. The lack of pace in our side at present worries me,although it doesn't seem to worry Mick,as he took off Maitland-Niles and brought on Coke!!!

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Westy added 17:12 - Dec 8 I've always rated Douglas - he upsets the other teams mogo.
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