Blues boss Paul Hurst says form, injury and currently illness have been factors in Barry Cotter not having been in or around the first team so far this season.

Having signed from Limerick in his native Republic of Ireland in January, the right-back or centre-half made a huge impression on Town fans in the 1-0 home victory over Barnsley in April, the match which turned out to be Mick McCarthy’s last in charge of the Blues.

The 19-year-old subsequently featured as a late sub in the 4-0 away win at Reading but hasn’t appeared for the senior side since and has been in and out of the U23s this season.

“I think he played and then he was left out on form, and that’s from the U23s lads,” Hurst said. “Then he’s been injured and he came back and is injured and is actually ill today.

“So he’s certainly not realistically been in contention for a place in the squad for some time in all honesty.

“Barry’s got a lot of good attributes, he’s got an enthusiasm to him but I do think he probably fits that category that I’ve spoken about of people who maybe got some action when perhaps that was through circumstance rather than really being ready to make that step.

“I understand that on his debut he had everyone speaking about him but even in that game he had to come off because he couldn’t last the game.

“Barry will keep working away when he’s back and has got rid of his illness and injury, and we’ll see how he goes.”

Photo: Action Images

Suffolkboy added 20:24 - Oct 18 I simply cannot comprehend the content and tone of the comments from PH ; there's a distant - ' it's got not a lot to do with me 'attitude and often about players who were not brought in by him . It's truly depressing ; he needs to really Buck his ideas up , convey a sense of conviction buttressed by clear and demonstrably intimate and up to date knowledge about every member of the playing staff -- so far he proclaims the difficulties and the size of the task !Is he or is he not a ' man manager ' & can he bring an air of enthusiasm to the task ? He needs to be told to brush up a fairly dismal impression so far ; if the team have to improve , then manifestly so does this man . Either he will rise to the task ,show complete professionalism OR Mr Evans will have to commence an education programme with foreseeable results for failure . Come on you Blue , please !

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 20:39 - Oct 18 Blimey Suffolk boy , you got all that from that ?? All seems fairly straightforward to me but maybe I'm not on your intellectual level.
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inghamspur added 22:11 - Oct 18 He looked to be the first choice right back for this season after his 55 minute debut against Barnsley & real shame he's not been able to sustain it.
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TheTrueBlue1878 added 22:47 - Oct 18 Suffolkboy - Think hurst is in a more realistic position to judge, has the opportunity to see him everyday, yet us fans have seen him for 45 minutes. Think PH's opinion is more credible at the moment.
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 23:42 - Oct 18 I have to say though that whether Hurst is right or not, I just don't care for publicly airing your doubts about one of your players like this. I can't see it will help player or team. He could simply say Cotter isn't ready yet without implying he never thought the lad was good enough in the first place.
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afcfee added 08:32 - Oct 19 Is Hurst good enough for the Championship though?
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ArnieM added 08:54 - Oct 19 The one thing I don't like about Hurst is the way he's shipped out all our Academy players who HAVE Championship experience ahead of his own recruits. He needs to bring them back to the Vlub in January ( if he can) and out them in OUR squad. Give them more experience at Championship level. They won't disappoint!
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JimmyP45 added 13:26 - Oct 19 One of the most impressive and exciting debuts in a town shirt I can remember. Hope to see him again soon as he is exactly the type of full back we need.
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Bluefox added 18:07 - Oct 19 So instead of playing young players who are ‘not ready', we are now playing first and second division players who are not ready- and in some cases never will be.
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86wsblue added 20:27 - Oct 19 Good comment suffolkboy, I really want to like the new gaffa i really do but nothing he ever says fills me with hope and optimism and this has been from his first day. I'm not anti Hurst at all but can't seem to warm to him unfortunately ,hopefully that will change in Time .
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soclopath added 23:35 - Oct 19 So our opinions mean zilch? He looked a sound player on his debut,not as lost as some of those players Hurst has possibly burdened the club with,although they aren't on long contracts I start to wonder how many he'll leave behind.
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Swn98 added 10:01 - Oct 20 lose Saturday pack your bags MR HURST.
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