Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy refused to entertain what he considers ‘pub chat’ debate about the value of Cole Skuse to his team.

The 31-year-old midfielder has started 158 of the 178 league games played since his free transfer switch from Bristol City in the summer of 2013.

And while he has undoubtedly been consistent and reliable in his role shielding, intercepting and carefully using the ball, a debate has arisen regarding his value to the team of late.

Skuse – who has just one goal and very few assists to his name as a Blues player – was absent for the majority of the positive performances against Reading, Aston Villa and Brighton at the start of February and was again unavailable when the Blues produced an enterprising display in Tuesday night’s 3-0 home win over Wigan.

The concussion he suffered in last Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Birmingham will once again see him sidelined at Fulham on Saturday.

When it was put to McCarthy that some supporters are debating whether Town are a more forward-thinking side without Skuse in the midfield, the Blues boss snapped: “Where are these suggestions from? Don’t pose me questions like that. That’s why I don’t read that internet s**t. Don’t bring it to press conferences.

“It’s always the same. When we win the players who are sat in the stand behind me are never as good and when you lose all the ones in the stands and all the kids are better than the ones on the pitch.”

Pressed on an issue that many supporters are discussing, he said: “Are they? I’ll pop into the pub and discuss plastering and electronics and roadworks then shall I? I tell you, there are a lot of potholes around, so if I find some of them I’ll tell someone how to fix them.

“I’m not having pub discussions in here. That’s why I don’t go to the pub and listen to all that nonsense.”

He added: “By the way, Cole Skuse has been brilliant from the day he walked through the door. He’s just been outstanding.

“I remember him getting a bit of booing and bit of digging out. Maybe they are getting bored of him and (Christophe) Berra and the ones who have been here a while.

“I’m sure that happens, but they have all been very, very reliable and good servants to the club.”