Loanee Paul Digby says he’s loving life at Town and is learning more about playing centre-half all the time, having joined the Blues on loan from Barnsley until the end of the season in January, after spending time on trial at Manchester United last summer.

The 21-year-old has seen several of those he trained alongside at Old Trafford break into the Red Devils' first team and quickly making their mark this season.

“I had two weeks with United. That was unbelievable. I will remember the lessons from that for the rest of my life,” Digby told the club site.

“I played in a couple of friendlies and I reckon there are eight or so of the players that I worked with there that have played for the United first team this season - boys like [Guillermo] Varela, Marcus Rashford, Donald Love and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson.

“They are all good enough to play in the first team because they work so hard. It’s inspiring to see the boys there making their debuts in the Premier League.”

Having played most of his football in midfield while coming through the ranks at Oakwell, Sheffield-born Digby has been playing at centre-half for the Blues and says manager Mick McCarthy is giving him the benefit of his experience at the heart of the defence.

“I learned a lot at United and I’m doing that here as well,” he added. “TC and the manager have been brilliant with me, helping me with different parts of my game.

“They are pushing me all the time and I’m learning the role of a centre-half. The gaffer was a top centre-half and he is teaching me all the time. He is showing me the tricks of the trade. I’m loving it here.”

Former England U19 and U20 international Digby, who made his Championship debut as a late sub at Huddersfield, adding to his two starts in the FA Cup ties against Portsmouth, is likely to join the Blues on a free transfer in the summer if he continues to impress the Town management between now and the end of the season.

Photo: Action Images

iaintaylorx added 13:13 - Mar 2 Not seen the kid play this season, so I can't give my opinion on him, but I guess MM is having a look at him, hence why only going for the loan and possibly developing into a centre half.. Wonder when Tommy Smith is going to get this new deal!?
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rinkydinkpanther added 13:16 - Mar 2 And I think I know precisely what he's learnt at each club: 1/ At Man Utd: "This is definitely the type of club I want to have a lengthy career at." 2) At Town: "This is definitely not the type of club I want to wind up marooned at and stagnating with simply because I never put in the extra effort to deserve anything better, being lazy and content enough with being an also-ran." Valuable lessons, to be fair.

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HighgateBlue added 13:17 - Mar 2 He's a great project for MM, and also seems to have a really good attitude. "players that I worked with", he says. That turn of phrase impressed me - shows he's a professional who understands that he has to work at his game.
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Bluebell added 14:14 - Mar 2 He may have been at ManU for 2 weeks but ended up at Barnsley! I won't knock him though because he must have been good enough to get into Man U's team (although Lee Martin come to mind so that may not alwaysa be the case). I am hoping he will prove he is good enough to play for Town and under Mick and Terry he has good teachers. If not we don't have to sign in at the end of the season so it's win/win for us.

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strikalite added 16:57 - Mar 2 Sometimes us fans just look at things as black and white. We have already written Digby off purely on where he has come from, he's still only 21 and central defenders peak around their mid to late twenties it seems , so as long as his attitude is right, and it seems that it is, then he as every chance of progressing with us...I'm sure MM has seen enough defenders in his time to know that he has real potential..

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jas0999 added 17:08 - Mar 2 I'm afraid I still don't understand this signing. A loan from a league one club, where he wasn't good enough to start. This was one of our two January signings. The other was a player with a shoulder condition and who hadn't played since the back end of last season. At the same time four players left. Compared to other promotion contenders, even to this day the strategy remains shocking.

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Mungo added 20:34 - Mar 2 Jas - It's basically an extended trial period with a view to the future, not the current campaign. MM & TC take a good look at him over a few months to assess his ability, attitude, etc and if he cuts the mustard we get an England youth international on a free transfer. Not the worst deal ITFC has ever done...
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BrettenhamBlue added 05:38 - Mar 3 jas0999: more understandable than the decision to sign Coke though.
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battyblue added 12:34 - Mar 3 Mike teaches me how to Hoooooooooof it higher and further than I ever thought possible.
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