Town midfielder Cole Skuse has signed a new contract running until the end of June 2018 with an option for a further season. The 29-year-old’s current terms were due to end next summer, although the Blues had an option for a further season in that deal.

Manager Mick McCarthy is pleased to have tied one of his key players down on a longer term deal.

“It was very important that we did that,” he said. “I spoke to him in the summer and just said I could see that his contract was running out, although we would have had an option on him so we could have taken him for another year.

“But if you don’t move and do it it’s a sign that you’re not wanting to do it, I think, and quite clearly we did with Cole because he’s been excellent since he’s been here.

“I think he’s a perfect example to everybody here in the Academy building, where we are at the minute, of what they should be aspiring to be as a professional footballer.

“Talk about low maintenance, he’s really very professional and just a lovely guy and a top player he’s been for us. Delighted, really thrilled he’s signed.”

Skuse, who joined the Blues on a Bosman free transfer in the summer of 2013 from his hometown side Bristol City, told the club site: “Obviously I’m thrilled to have signed a new contract.

“I knew my contract was up at the end of this season but the gaffer and the owner made it clear they wanted to keep me and I’m delighted it has been sorted and that my future is here for another three years.

“I’ve loved my time here. I never realised what a big club Ipswich is until I came here. The support the club enjoys is fantastic and hopefully we can get where we all want to be, the Premier League.”

Photo: Action Images

NITFC added 18:08 - Oct 19 The last time we were good we had a player very similar to Cole Scuse in the middle - Jermaine Wright. The difference between then and now is we had Matt Holland doing the box - to - box stuff. If we could get the blend right it could still be a good season. Teddy Bish or Kevin Bru need to play (oh, and Didz of course)
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blueboy1981 added 18:09 - Oct 19 .......... if you listen to some ITFC Fans / Supporters, call us what you will, ALL our players are BRILLIANT - shame current results don't actually prove the point. Reality is - we're currently struggling to get points in the Championship. So let's not get too carried away - and work on WHY that is - post haste.
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jas0999 added 18:14 - Oct 19 Underrated last season and ultimately deserving of the praise he received. BUT I find it odd we have signed him up until June 2018. He won't get any better and sadly his performances this season have been disappointing at best. Strange one for me. I just hope the Suse/Douglas partnership ends very soon. Skuse better with an attack minded player next to him in fairness.

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blueboy1981 added 18:14 - Oct 19 ....... with the right system operating around him - Skuse IS a good player, at Championship level anyway - and maybe higher ...!!! But he has to be used correctly - as indeed many more of the current squad.
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Kesblue66 added 18:19 - Oct 19 Sorry Skusey for my earlier comments,i apologize .i am sure that was borne out of my total frustration,with team selections and tactics.After watching town for nearly seventy years,i a have never been so disappointed as i have been this season.
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blueboy1981 added 18:28 - Oct 19 ........ at the moment Skuse is a Silk Purse - currently trying to play the role of a Pig's Ear. To those who understand the game anyway.
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Surco72 added 18:46 - Oct 19 Very average player IMO doesn't do enough as a holding defensive midfielder to protect back four , cannot create anything and performances flatter to deceive . If he is as excellent as MM says why does he always need another defensive midfielder next to him ? Wouldn't get in any of the top six sides same as Douglas , Tabb but regular starters for us over last two seasons

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StowTractorBoy added 18:47 - Oct 19 Another sensible move by the Manager/Club as Skuse is vital to our midfield and agree with others that he needs a Bishop or a Bru next to him. Last season particularly towards the end, Skuse was exceptional and hopefully this form will rear its head again when he gets the right central midfield partner.
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theman added 19:37 - Oct 19 Does so much unseen work. This was particularly true last season when he filled in whenever a team mate was caught out of position and this gave Mings more of a licence to get forward. Stopped many a dangerous counteract by seeing the danger and snuffing it out. Think the issue this season is who he's partnered with, would be far more compatible with Bru/Bishop. Also, having seen him in his Bristol City days he's actually a much more technical player than he's given credit for (shows he's willing to adapt his game for the team). Glad he's signed a new deal.

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StochesStotasBlewe added 19:38 - Oct 19 Bluelady, agree 100%. Watch Skuse during a game, he does the ugly stuff very well, however, as most others have posted, it,s pointless playing him with Douglas/Hyam, bring back Bru/Bishop & we will see him back to last seasons form.
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EssexTractor added 19:40 - Oct 19 Interesting comments here and it sort of sums up where we all are , as supporters. When we were good we were good, we all agreed who we liked, everyone! I have been watching ITFC since 1958", my son has been watching since 1991. I see real no benefit in Cole Skuse, certainly not a s someone who at 29 I would be offering a three year deal to as manager of a club " aspiring" to be Premiership. My son thinks , as others do, that he deserves his place, works hard always a selection. Even though he is described as a defensive midfielder I am unconvinced that that is his title, he does seem more Ray Wilkins like with sideways motions but is not an uncompromising defensive midfielder. What does he do going forward, well we have " family feuds" about this and there's no harm in that, a good debate is fine. But opta stats reveal in 96 games he has scored 1 goal ( albeit a tremondous goal) and assisted 5 ( 1 assist every 19 games!) I haven't seen " newspaper talk" suggest that he is targeted by other clubs so he is, in my opinion, an OK championship player, nothing more , nothing less and to go forward in a really progressive manner ITFC should seek and retain alternative midfielders of better attacking and defensive capabilities.

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wayway added 20:44 - Oct 19 Whoopie doo
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akjlitfc added 20:48 - Oct 19 No one can doubt the importance of this man in our team, underrated on the pitch but when he's not there you can notice. Good work from Mick here!
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Warkys_Tash added 20:52 - Oct 19 Skuse didn't start off well last season, imo - But got progressively better & became one of the names that really couldn't be left off the sheet. Can hit a ball very hard & straight, just a shame he doesn't have the accuracy required to score 7-10 a season. Plays better with a creative player alongside, aka Bishop or Bru. Did untold mopping up & defensive protection last season, needs to find his form again & fast. Better player than often given credit for & a miss when not available. Let's back him.

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TimmyH added 22:45 - Oct 19 I would have thought the extra year on top of his current contract would have suited us fine, by then he'll be nudging on to 31 but til' 2018? - does that mean Skuse will be the main holding midfielder up to then? probably knowing this club and it's intent on transfer deals. As said most consistent player last few months or so of last season but have to say took sometime to get going. One good thing at present is he's fairly immune from injuries shame we can't say the same about Douglas, desperately need Bru or Bish in the centre just in front of him

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GiveusaWave added 00:25 - Oct 20 Pleased to see that he's signed a new contract. One of our best players and an automatic starter in our first 11. As so many others have pointed out, very similar to Douglas. Don't forget though that at Brentford Douglas was an attacking midfielder and he scored a fair few goals. I really hope Douglas catches some form. Maybe he takes a while to settle into a team but so far he's hardly been inspiring. Much better than Coke for sure but seems to be hanging round the "defensive midfield" role far too much. He does need to step up his game or else Tabb, Bishop, Bru, Hyam etc will displace him in the team. It will be interesting to see Varney back. Really liked what I have seen of him so far. We should be looking to get Henshall out on loan. Shame to see Stewart has had no impact at Doncaster.

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gorse added 02:03 - Oct 20 A few home truths : 1 Skuse is first on the team sheet as we have no-one else near his quality in that vital role. No-brainer. 2 At his age in that role next 2-3 years should be best in his career. It's about reading play not dashing about for 90 mins. 3 Some seem to forget how vulnerable we looked last season on the few games he didn't play. Incredible effort & consistency given how many hours he played. 4 He has not looked as great this season due to his uncomfortable pairing with Douglas disrupting his game, IMO.

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Beattiesballbag added 02:53 - Oct 20 There must be a lot of people on here content with championship football! It's as big a luxury to have a holding midfield player who contributes little forward distribution as it is to have a skillful player who doesn't work hard, you may just as well play with five across the back. A decent midfield player would have an eye for goal, forward pass, as well as help out in defence, like so many we've had in the past, Holland, Hamilton, Wark, Talbot, Magilton, Viljoen, Hegan, Morris, not to mention the dutch maestros, to name a few all assisted the defence. He doesn't play any better with an attacking partner, just that they make up for his short comings! Being a nice guy who works hard for the team might help us be a hard team to beat but it's not going to win us enough games for promotion, as soon as we come up against teams that work as hard as us what have we got to offer? Part of being a football supporter is the hopes & aspirations for the future this contract extension like MM's style of football gives me none!

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