Characters breed character – Mick McCarthy says Paul Green will fit right in at Ipswich Town

The 30-year-old midfielder completed his 93-day loan switch from Leeds on Saturday morning and then stepped off the bench later in the day to help the Blues secure a dramatic 2-2 comeback draw at Barnsley.

Town could have let their heads drop after going 2-0 down in the 74th minute, Tomasz Cywka’s deflected free-kick coming massively against the run of play, but instead they rallied and secured a fully deserved share of the spoils thanks to late goals from Christophe Berra (81) and David McGoldrick (84).

It was a spirited performance from a close-knit and determined group of players who have been selected by McCarthy for their personalities as much as their abilities.

“He’s got a bit of quality, he’s certainly got energy, but he’s a proper character – that’s why I like him,” said McCarthy, when asked about Green, who stepped off the bench in the 74th minute and was only denied a dramatic stoppage-time winner thanks to a fabulous defensive block.

“It’s the same with Frazer Richardson (recently brought in on loan from Middlesbrough). They’re both 30 years of age, experienced at this level and good characters.”

A draw saw the seventh-placed Blues close the gap to the play-off places to three points thanks to Reading’s 2-0 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday. Brighton, Blackburn, Leeds and Wigan all remain hot on their heels though, three of those four teams all holding at least one game in hand.