Town boss Mick McCarthy says new loan signing Paul Digby will be viewed as a first-teamer from the off, rather than as a player initially only involved with Mark Kennedy’s development squad.

The 20-year-old joined on loan from Barnsley for the rest of the season on Saturday and watched the 0-0 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor from the stands.

“I’ve had him here for a week, I’ve taken him with a view to being a first-team player, not to be anything else and if we can develop him and get something out of him then it’ll be a good signing,” McCarthy said.

Digby, who is 6ft 4in tall, has played most of his football up to now as a central midfielder and has also operated at right-back, but the Town boss sees him as a central defender.

He added: “I’m hoping he’s going to be a very good player for us, but we’ll see. He’s been with England for the U19s and U20s and I’m hoping he’s going to make a good centre-half with us, we’ll see.”

Born in Sheffield Digby came through the ranks at Oakwell and won their Most Promising Academy Player award in 2008.

He made his senior debut as a 16-year-old in September 2011 but totals only 11 starts and 14 sub appearances for the Tykes with his only games this season one League One start and two matches from the bench in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Digby, who spent time on trial with Manchester United earlier this year, is contracted to Barnsley until the summer of 2017.

Photo: Action Images

DiamondGezzer added 13:38 - Jan 5 Forget the why's and why-fors lads, it's purely called business. If it works then it's money in the bank, if it doesn't, it ain't like losing the fortune you would on an established player. Up the Town !
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Kirbmeister added 13:41 - Jan 5 Budgycrusher - totally agree but be careful about dissing the 'square peg round hole' theory that some on here keep harping on about. There's one poster on here who will take great offence!!
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Popeye added 13:42 - Jan 5 Dont understand how he has jumped ahead of Clarke and Yorwerth in the pecking order, going straight into the 1st team squad despite playing very little. If MM wanted some cover and the back, then why didn't he recall one of them??
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dirtydingusmagee added 15:07 - Jan 5 newbie,that was part of the deal, a sun bed and jar of Brylcream ,
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Seasider added 15:44 - Jan 5 I hope he doesn't jump in ahead of Malarczyk on Saturday,as this would be a bit unfair to say the least. I am sure that there will be a host of changes on Saturday;but will the players coming in be motivated I wonder,as they know they will only be in for the one game.Only more if Ipswich get thru to the next round.
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blues1 added 17:18 - Jan 5 seaside. I expect he probably could jump ahead of malarcyk on Saturday purely because malarcyk hasn't shown himself to be good enough as yet. yes, he had a good game at man utd but hasn't played particularly well when hes come on in other games. and according to a mate who went to Fulham, when he came on there was all over the place. so maybe he needs more time to adjust(certainly not writing him off yet). as for a previous post on here(cant remember posters name), the reason hes ahead of the likes of Clarke and yorwerth is simply that theyre not ready for this level yet, certainly in mms eyes, where he says that digby is. whether hes right on that remains to be seen but you have to trust him on this one.

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blueboy1981 added 18:12 - Jan 5 ........ never fails to amaze me - EVERY player we are linked with, or sign, irrespective of history etc; - is seen by some people as being world class. Top players don't come for nothing - good promising young player's - occassionally. Let's hope Digby gets his chance, and proves himself. BUT why another CH / CB when we have Matt Clarke doing the business elsewhere ? - and we still have a definitive, and ongoing, vacancy for a RIGHT BACK. Common sense is no longer common - I'm sure.

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blueboy1981 added 18:14 - Jan 5 ........ I think (if he could) MM would have ten CH's and a Goalkeeper - I wonder why ?? Whatever - wish the lad well - he may need it.
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blueboy1981 added 18:16 - Jan 5 ........ has to be seen as yet another of MM's quirky decisions - at best.
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blueboy1981 added 18:36 - Jan 5 ....... for those who quote Wark / Naylor as an example, and reason, for 'square pegs in round holes' NOT being a problem at all - GET REAL PEOPLE. Both were players who had astute 'footballing brains' and therefore in latter days of their career were able to drop back into more defensive roles as they lost pace, and coped extremely well. This is a totally different scenario - and people who believe otherwise, watch the game - but have NO understanding of it at all. Sometimes naivety is a virtue - obviously.

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maninashed added 19:16 - Jan 5 And don't forget that Mick Mills who was a right footed midfielder. He spent most of his career at left back and the best he could do was to captain Ipswich and England. Robson was hopeless!
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Bluetone added 20:14 - Jan 5 @ maninashed Mick Mills played at right back and Colin Harper played at left back until Harper sustained a career ending injury Mick then moved to left back to accommodate an upcoming young right back - left me think - that's it just remembered - his name was George Burley.
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Langdon_Blue added 21:24 - Jan 5 Oh dear Blueboy you seem to have had a bit of a meltdown...who said this guy is world class? Every positive post wishes him well and is prepared to give the lad time. We all know Ipswich haven't had a world class player since Mark Venus. I agree with you on Matt Clarke though, he does seem to be coming on leaps and bounds. Hopefully he'll continue to progress and break into our team next season. It's good to see us looking to the future with signing these youngsters / sending the out for experience don't you think? Much better than the Jewell days when we had a lot of expensive has beens, at the club for one last lucrative short term contract.

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blueboy1981 added 21:50 - Jan 5 ..... Langdon Blue - disagreeing with my last post would indicate that you have had some kind of meltdown..... especially if you have followed the Club for any length of time ... !!! Equally so, the point I make with the post you comment on - is that the credibility of EVERY player is escalated as soon as they are linked / signed by us. Normally by the faction of people who would agree if MM insisted that BLACK was in fact WHITE - such is the adulation and distortion of some - but thankfully NOT ALL.

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Langdon_Blue added 22:11 - Jan 5 Blueboy - it is possible for players to be versatile enough to operate in more than one position effectively. Suggesting that anyone who thinks it is possible has no understanding of the game they are watching is quite simply a ludicrous statement. For another example Wayne Rooney plays deep for Man Utd and yet used as an out and out striker for England. I don't think wishing a new player well and being prepared to hold judgment until supporters watch him play is escalating his credibility in any way is it? What relevance does the amount of time I have followed Ipswich have to my understanding of football?

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smokester added 22:35 - Jan 5 'Square pegs in round holes' - isn't that what the Dutch call Total Football? Come to think of it, MM's preferred 4-3-3 formation is typical in the Dutch leagues. It all makes sense now. Mick's pool of unknown players will soon be sweeping the ball around like Ajax in their prime. Seriously, however it sometimes looks, McCarthy has the Town competitively respectable again on a budget and that surreal waking nightmare in Peterborough I watched through slits between my fingers is a long time ago.

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Langdon_Blue added 22:47 - Jan 5 Oh god, there should be a rule against mentioning 'that evening' Smokester. Although even with McCarthy the Reading away game was somewhere near as embarrassing. Fortunately it seems that through the pain of watching that night, adjustments have been made and lessons learned.
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warktheline added 22:56 - Jan 5 Wark, Mills etc were WORLD CLASS players! Chambers is an honest player, always giving 100%.....it isn't rocket science!
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warktheline added 23:00 - Jan 5 @kirbmeister, maybe you should change your name to 'potstirrer' ! You sail were the wind blows!
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Kirbmeister added 00:05 - Jan 6 If the cap fits. And it's 'where' not 'were'.
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62WasBest added 02:04 - Jan 6 blueboy1981 - Wark began his career at the back before playing in midfield - and then dropping back.
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blueboy1981 added 18:02 - Jan 6 Langdon Blue ........ again have to query your knowledge - of course players CAN play out of position, and perform reasonably - but EVERY single one that does will tell you he has his best position, and people watching that player will know that too ... !! What I refer too is that continuously doing so is foolhardy, and potentially detrimental to both Player and Club in the longer term. You obviously can't, or don't want to understand the content of my post - therefore best left there.

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Langdon_Blue added 20:09 - Jan 6 Blueboy - It's such a shame you do not seem to be able to converse sensibly with fellow supporters without suggesting you are the only one who knows the game and everyone with a alternative opinion doesn't have a clue. If it is Chambers that you refer to as playing in a position that is detrimental to himself and our club, then I disagree. I saw him play CB against Brighton at home and he was very poor and swiftly moved back to RB at half time. It was Chambers who let the QPR attacker get in front of him in a central position that lead to their goal. I prefer both Berra and Smith as CB's over Chambers. I'm sorry that your limited intelligence allows you to discuss opinions on our club sensibly on this site. Enjoy the game Saturday.

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Reecex28 added 20:40 - Jan 6 Am I missing something ? I wish him well but if we only have him on loan surely if he does well that only increases the price Barnsley would want for him ( if they decide to sell )
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blueboy1981 added 20:44 - Jan 6 Langdon Blue .......... if you have to question my intelligence, which I find totally unacceptable - MENSA test at your convenience. Unfortunately, you appear to be one of a small minority of posters who get lost for constructive words - thus left with nothing other than to resort to derogatory abuse, then twisting comments to suit yourselves, Won't be surprised if the 'others' identify themselves by agreeing with your abusive post. Oh... !! - wait a moment, it's already happened - surprise,surprise .. !!! No surprise at who's led the way - although I thought he/ she had 'left' the forum around New Years Day ???

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