Assistant manager Stuart Taylor says midfielder Jon Nolan has been superb since returning for pre-season and has been excelling in the Blues’ engine room alongside Andre Dozzell and Teddy Bishop since the campaign proper got under way.

Nolan, 28, appears to have benefited from Flynn Downes’s absence with the Crystal Palace target having appeared likely to start alongside his fellow academy products but for being given a few days off ahead of the season opener, the Carabao Cup tie against Bristol Rovers which the Blues won 3-0.

Ex-Shrewsbury man Nolan, Dozzell and Bishop have been among the outstanding performers for the Blues in their first three fixtures with the Liverpudlian netting his first goal of the campaign in the 2-1 EFL Trophy loss to Arsenal’s U21s.

“I think Nolo has been superb coming back from pre-season,” Taylor said. “Even games last season and when we first came in in the Championship he was really effective in how he went about his job.

“But I think he's happy going under the radar because of his personality. He's quite quiet, he just comes in and does his work but very very influential and effective when he's on the pitch.

“He's so composed on the ball and looks to go and take it in tight areas, but he's creative, gets himself in the box, makes some great runs going forward in behind the opposition defence, and he's added a lot to his game in terms of the physical side of it, getting tackles in and getting close to people.

“He has unbelievable energy to get about the pitch and he's been massive for us this season, as have a few of the other lads as well, but when you pick up on him he's done very, very well.”

Given the Blues are going into their fourth game of the season on Wednesday when Fulham visit in the Carabao Cup and with the fifth on Saturday on the campaign’s 15th day, might some or all of that midfield triumvirate need to be rested against the Cottagers, particularly given the fitness issues Bishop and Dozzell have had previously?

“We still speak about the development of players and part of their development is to go and churn out games,” Taylor said.

“It's something that they've not done for one reason or another, most in the past it's been that they've picked up little knocks or coming back off a serious injury.

“But hopefully that's all behind them now, and they can get stronger every single week and every single game, and it makes them more resilient to go and churn out the games.

“They are quality players as well. It's about having your quality players on the pitch and having them available for games.”

Photos: Matchday Images

LWNR2013 added 11:57 - Sep 15 Very good on Sunday 👍
5

Roberds added 12:31 - Sep 15 More than played his part in a strong midfield performance on Sunday, and that crunching tackle in our own penalty area was a highlight of the match for me. Very little room for error and he got it spot on. Never quite understood the amount of negativity towards him sometimes, he was never any worse than a lot of players around him last season. Maybe Sunday showed what his best position/system is - he had options in front of him instead of being forced to recycle the ball. Think it was his drive into the box that ended up with Bish hitting the post as well.

5

rugbytomc added 13:00 - Sep 15 Roberds - I think probably frustration that we signed him in the first place when we didn't need him. We have at least 11 senior central midfielders currently. Why was Hurst allowed to spend valuable funds on him, Nsiala or Donacien?! That aside - he played well on Sunday but since he's been here he's looked the weakest link in that midfield contingent. Hope for more performances like Sunday though and he could keep out Downes, Huws and Skuse

4

rugbytomc added 13:00 - Sep 15 Roberds - I think probably frustration that we signed him in the first place when we didn't need him. We have at least 11 senior central midfielders currently. Why was Hurst allowed to spend valuable funds on him, Nsiala or Donacien?! That aside - he played well on Sunday but since he's been here he's looked the weakest link in that midfield contingent. Hope for more performances like Sunday though and he could keep out Downes, Huws and Skuse

0

heathen66 added 15:56 - Sep 15 People need to stop this negativity to any Paul Hurst signings Nolan has done more for us than other Senior midfielders have contributed over the last season or so and Sundays game was another prime example. Like many, played correctly we will see them blossom !!! Played out of position to shoehorn others in will not Our skipper has made more errors that have led to goals than Nsiala and Donacien combined. Jackson contributed to 18 Goals (11 goals + 7 Assists) but everyone want rid. Cannot think why, if given the chance they may want to look elsewhere to ply their trade.

2

Dockerblue added 09:30 - Sep 16 Agree Heathen66, Chambers is a weak link in our defence and will always make errors that lead to goals. He got away with a couple on Sunday!
1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls