Paul Digby is only on loan with Town at the moment but admits to feeling so settled that he sees his long-term future at Portman Road.

The 21-year-old Barnsley defender, who made his full league debut in the 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough last weekend, was asked if he saw himself being an Ipswich player next season, despite having a year left on his Oakwell deal.

He responded: “Yes, I think so. I just leave it to others to sort it out while I focus on the next game.

“To be honest I’m not too bothered — I just look to the next game and try to give my best for the team.

“I love it here and I feel like I’m learning and improving every day. It can be hard as a centre-half, especially if you’ve got two in front of you who are doing really well.

“You can’t really complain. All you can do is work hard in training and look to improve all the time, and I feel I’ve done that.”

Digby hopes to follow in the footsteps of former team-mates John Stones and Mason Holgate in moving up the football ladder, although they are both with Everton in the Premier League and in Stones’s case he is an established member of Roy Hodgson’s England squad who is sure to be named in the squad for the forthcoming European Championships being hosted by France.

He added: “I was in the same youth team as Stonesy and watching him go on to play in the Premier League and for England has been great.

“We came through around the same time at Barnsley but I was injured a lot and he was different class. When he got into the first team he was unbelievable and he just kept improving.

“I’m not surprised there have been £40 million bids for him because he is top, top drawer. Every now and again I’ll send him a text and I’m delighted for him that his career is going so well. The academy at Barnsley is brilliant and they produce a lot of good players.

“There are a few young lads in the first team at the moment and all the central defenders, not just John Stones and Mason Holgate, were encouraged right from the start to play out from the back.

“Stonesy was always getting on the ball and now he’s doing it in the Premier League, which is amazing.

“But you need the steel too — that is so important. You’ve got to have that in the Championship because it’s all about keeping clean sheets. It’s not U21 football any more, it’s a step up from that, and the emphasis is on clean sheets. I’m taking all that on board.

“I want to be playing regularly, wherever I am. That should be the goal for any young player, trying to get first team football.

“At times it might not work out somewhere but you’ve just got to keep going. You can’t get disheartened by it, you must keep working hard and improving.

“I’m just going to do my best in training and keep focusing on every game. I look up to Tommy, Bez and Chambo here at Ipswich, in fact the whole back four.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for them because I know it’s hard both mentally and physically, but I feel I’m ready. I’ve grown up now.”

Meanwhile, Digby believes his experience as a midfielder with Barnsley will eventually make him a more complete defender with the ability to launch attacks from the back, but only once he has become a regular choice in Mick McCarthy’s team.

Asked if he was the type of player capable of bringing the ball put from the back, he replied: “My time in midfield has helped me because in that role you are on the ball a lot.

“Playing at the back I want to get on the ball and play, which is part of my game that I want to keep working on.

“The manager is encouraging us to do that — but at the right times. With Championship football, first and foremost you’ve got to keep clean sheets.

“You don’t want to be making mistakes and giving the ball away, but if there’s time to play the gaffer definitely encourages us to do that.”

Photo: Action Images

GiveusaWave added 08:05 - Apr 29 You did well against Boro. Best of luck for next season.
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brian_a_mul added 09:01 - Apr 29 I agree, he had a good game against Boro. Good potential there. Surprised Barnsley diddnt see the potential in him, he is still their player, they may want to keep him now :) Good upbringing by the sounds of it and has been on the radar of the International youths for some time. Could be a valuable asset for us next season. I wonder if there is the possibility he could play the holding midfielder role protecting the back four while linking defense with midfield. Could be another string to his bow.

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