Former Blues midfielder Scott Fraser, who joined Charlton on deadline day, has admitted his frustration at being played in a left-sided midfield role for most of his short spell at Portman Road.

The 26-year-old signed for the Blues from the MK Dons in the summer but made only 18 starts and two sub appearances for Town, scoring his only goal on his debut, before departing on Monday, a move manager Kieran McKenna revealing yesterday that the former Burton man was “desperate to go”.

Having impressed and scored regularly for the Dons playing centrally - 14 in his one season at Stadium MK - Fraser was surprised that ex-Blues boss Paul Cook used him in a narrow left-sided role. Fraser didn’t feature at all under McKenna, although was unavailable for some of that time due to a knee injury.

“Never at any point was I thinking I was going to go there and be played out on the left wing,” Fraser told the South London Press.

“With the numbers I’d achieved over the last few seasons I’d done that playing centrally — whether that was as a number eight or a left-sided number 10.

“I never achieved them by playing out wide. It’s similar to asking a winger to play as a number 10 — the skillset is not the same in any way.

“I never really got the chance. The chats I had before were that I was going to a big club and you’re going to be the one that is going to help us, very much, get to the Championship. It never worked out like that. That’s football sometimes.”

Fraser, who Charlton were initially keen to sign a couple of seasons ago when former Town midfielder Lee Bowyer was manager, was hoping his time with the Blues would win him international recognition.

“That again was one of the biggest frustrations of the Ipswich situation,” he continued. “I was told the season before that I was close and they [Scotland] were more aware of me than ever which, for a player in League One, speaks volumes.

“They told me I had to be playing at a higher standard on a regular basis in front of big crowds.

“I had that opportunity, in my head, at Ipswich. Now I’ve got the chance again at Charlton to play for a massive club in front of great fans — really kicking on, in terms of me and the club going up to the Championship, has got to be the aim to help all of us.

“Once a manager and whole club show that much faith to go and pay the money — and give me a long contract — it shows how much they wanted me.”"

Having joined Charlton he says he believes the three-man midfield boss Johnnie Jackson utilises suits him.

“One hundred per cent” he added. “Even from watching the game on Monday [a 2-1 win at Portsmouth] I was seeing positions I could get into.

“I was thinking ‘I wish the deal had got done earlier so I could get on the pitch’. It was a game I would’ve loved. We got a fantastic result. I’m sure when I get in the team I’ll enjoy it.

“I’ve got a Twitter account but I don’t really use it. Tracey [Leaburn], our player liaison, was telling me she can’t quite remember a reception like I got on social media.

“I thank the fans for that. To make my debut in front of them on Saturday [against AFC Wimbledon] is something I’m really looking forward to. Hopefully we can nick a result.

“This should be a Championship club. They had a slow start to the season but since the gaffer came in they have really picked up. We need to get some positive momentum which we can finish off this season and also take into the next one.”

Photo: TWTD

blues1 added 16:07 - Feb 4 Chepstowblue. Really. They're more likely to make a promotion push than we're? They're 5 points behind us, albeit with a game in hand. And since beating us, have won 2 out of their last 7 league games. Dont think so. Do u ?
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algarvefan added 16:10 - Feb 4 Decent players with the right mindset and application can play anywhere, I hate people who think their lot is always 'someone elses' fault. M an Up!!!
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Linkboy13 added 16:24 - Feb 4 Bluewarrior good players can play well anywhere one of the daftest things ive heard in ages. How about Edmundson up front, Bonne at right back. Obviously a quote from somebody who's never been involved in the game. The truth is Cook signed a squad that was unbalanced with too many number tens. Fraser will do well at Charlton if used in his correct position.
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markchips added 16:39 - Feb 4 I'm in the 'won't be missed' category. Barrow cup match did it for me. Simply did not get involved in the game and from what I saw in that game didn't fancy it when up against more aggressive players.
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ThaiBlue added 16:47 - Feb 4 Bore off fraser,enjoy your time at the mighty charlton poor player.
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braveblue added 18:36 - Feb 4 Wherever you are in the pitch you have to control the ball and pass accurately. And move quickly. And cover your man. He did little of those.
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blueboy1981 added 22:17 - Feb 4 Playing talented players out of position after bringing them to our Club has been a problem for the past decade - we have lost so much potential and talent in doing so. Scott Fraser is yet another perfect example - all players have a preferred and best position, and Scott Fraser has talent, as you will now see, played centrally at Charlton. Managers can completely ruin players by playing them out of position, and they do just that. We have lost out on so much - and must change that. Players like to play, but there is NO such thing as a player who can effectively play anywhere in the team.

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blueboy1981 added 22:21 - Feb 4 Linkboy13 - apologies, marked you down by mistake - I totally agree with you.👍
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Dissboyitfc added 09:53 - Feb 5 in the modern game you dont tend to see true utility playesr thats true but to say no such thing as player who can anyway isnt actually correct, with the size of squads these days ane the number of subs the need isnt there. I give you Micky Stockwell i believe he played most positions on the pitch and did extremely well wherever he played including goalkeeper. What sort of attitude is it when a player only wants to play in his favourite position and be first choice and has no interest if played out of position? Good Ridance!

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