Blues boss Mick McCarthy has paid tribute to midfielder Cole Skuse who will make his 200th appearance for Town at Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow.

The 31-year-old, who recently signed a new contract which runs to the summer of 2020 with the club having an option for a further season, joined the Blues from hometown club Bristol City on a Bosman in the summer of 2013 and has been one of the first names on McCarthy’s teamsheet ever since.

Confirming that that will be the case again at Hillsborough - “He’ll be celebrating his 200th tomorrow, you can be rest assured” - McCarthy says Skuse, whose 199 appearances ahead of the trip to Hillsborough include only game from the bench and two goals, ranks “very highly” on the list of his best-ever recruits.

“He’s played well, he’s a good player,” McCarthy reflected. “I say he’s durable, but he’s a good player.

“He got a bit of [stick], I think people started taking him for granted a little bit, how good he is and how valuable he is to the team.

“He lets all the rest of them get on with it and play and he does a lot of mopping up for people.

“All right, so he’s not sticking goals in here, there and everywhere, but he’s been a really valuable asset for me, for the club, for the team and I think if you asked all the players as well, they’d pick him as well.”

Does he feel players who play the holding midfield role Skuse occupies tend to be underrated?

“For the fear of a headline, Eric Cantona called Didier Deschamp a water carrier. I’d have settled for that if somebody had said I was like Deschamp and I was a water carrier, I’d have been really thrilled with that," McCarthy continued.

“It’s the ones that do their jobs well every week at the same standard, probably seven out of 10 every week, he very rarely dips beneath that. Those type of players are really valuable at any club, never mind just here.”

McCarthy admits it’s been a disappointment not to be able to field Skuse with summer signings Emyr Huws and Tm Adeyemi, the duo having spent most of the season out injured.

“I still think that would have been a potent force, to be honest. Certainly Emyr when he’s played, he’s been excellent, whether it was last season [when he was on loan] or this season.

“And Tom, he looked a real threat, it’s just unfortunate they’re both injured. Yes, I’d still like to see that midfield three, I think it would be good.”

Photo: TWTD

Gforce added 15:17 - Mar 5 Congratulations on 200 appearances Skusey.Contrary to what some people on here think,Skuse is definitely one of our most consistent performers and always puts in 100%. It shows when he is out of the team through injury,we really miss him and are not the same team.I guarantee if we didn't renew his contract there would be several championship clubs ready to sign him.
5

Slambo added 15:37 - Mar 5 I'm not going to sit here and say Skuse is the best thing since sliced bread - he is very limited in what he offers - but i'd sure as hell rather have him than not. I also happen to think he's having his best season in an Ipswich shirt. Also nice having a fit, strong, durable midfielder who doesn't appear to be made out of cocktail sticks...
7

MattinLondon added 15:40 - Mar 5 He is a very good role model for young professionals and he seems like a really likeable and down-to-earth person but he is simply a very average championship midfielder. Several championship teams may well be interested but I doubt if any top half clubs will view him as an automatic starter.
4

SamWhiteUK added 17:15 - Mar 5 We've played plenty good games when Skuse has been out. Not sure what Gforce is on about. Don't ask me to name them as I don't have a memory for that sort of thing - but I know I have seen plenty times on these forums comments about how creative we've looked without Skuse in the side.
5

Seasider added 17:41 - Mar 5 Mick said in another part of the interview,that playing 4 matches close together would mean there will be changes. He could have added that is apart from Skues and Chambers.It seems he thinks that these two can play every game without the need for a rest. You don't question 'this great manager'as he will get upset as he did at Norwich.
2

Gforce added 18:41 - Mar 5 Sam ,I was simply stating that on most occasions when Skuse is missing we look far more vulnerable.Every team needs a quality holding midfielder to protect the back four,you can't have just creative players and wingers !!
2

baxter7 added 20:00 - Mar 5 I honestly didn't know we had a quality holding midfield player yes we have a defensive midfield player but never quality far from it
1

Pilgrimblue added 20:40 - Mar 5 Has been a good player and while it's an unsung role his main attributes are his defensive work, But for me he doesn't connect with other midfielders and forwards. His first thought is to either pass back or blindly knock it up field in hope. When he does look up it makes a difference. However he's 31 and two more years is just crazy but that's Mick for you. Sign his favourite and don't think of the future. We already had a years option on him so why!!

1

Jonnosdreadlocks added 20:50 - Mar 5 Mediocre, Mick's proper bloke. One of the main reasons we play such insipid, dull football is because Skuse is undroppable. John Wark was a 'defensive' midfielder yet scored bags of goals, Skuse couldn't hit a cows ass with a banjo.
0

BillyBaxterwasbest added 21:08 - Mar 5 What's the point of being so negative, make your next comment a positive one!
-1

shakytown added 22:56 - Mar 5 Hard to judge him badly when he is just doing the job Mick wants. The real problem is the negative set up of the team as a whole. When the man in charge has the one and only game plan of trying to shut down the opposition at all costs then he has to play the way he does.
1

Gcon added 23:55 - Mar 5 We haven't won a game without Skuse playing for over a year. Love this fact, it really winds people up for some reason. Stick that in your Proper Bloke pipe!
1

baxter7 added 10:10 - Mar 6 And we haven't won many with him in the side as well
2

Skip73 added 11:42 - Mar 6 We've won 14 this season which is only 1 less than 6th placed Bristol City, with a game in hand and Skuse has played virtually all of them. Thats quite a few.
-1

braveblue added 12:41 - Mar 6 1 goal per 100 games from central midfield. Absolutely dreadful.
2

tempzzzz added 12:47 - Mar 6 "we haven't won a game without skuse playing" What a ridiculous comment. Can't remember the last time he missed a game, therefore of course we haven't won a game without skuse playing. I really hope that was sarcasm. Personally I don't mind him, I don't think he's the worst player we've seen under Mick but he's certainly not undroppable.
2

jjhbruno added 13:31 - Mar 6 When you're only left out of 4 games it's pretty difficult to argue against GCON. Braveblue. That's why he is up there with Europe's elite on interceptions. When you only hover in the busiest part of the pitch you are bound to have plenty of opportunities to stick your foot in.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls