Issa Diop, Dara O'Shea and Abdoul Ouattara look at tactical note during the 1-0 defeat at Everton. (Image: Ross Halls)
Issa Diop, Dara O'Shea and Abdoul Ouattara look at tactical note during the 1-0 defeat at Everton. (Image: Ross Halls)
Ipswich Town defender Issa Diop believes his central-back partnership with Dara O'Shea will continue to grow over time.
The Morocco international made an £8.5m switch from Fulham in the summer, arriving with 173 Premier League appearances to his name.
He's started all six of the Blues' opening league games at right-sided centre-back, with Jacob Greaves to his left for the first four and O'Shea taking that spot for the last two.
On being alongside the skipper, Diop said: "It's easy to play with him because he's a very good player. It's still the beginning, we haven't played a lot together, but after every session, every game, we know each other better. It's just going to be better and better, I hope."
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O'Shea, having started the season at right-back, has made no secret of the fact he prefers to be at the heart of the defence. The Irishman insists it doesn't matter to him whether he's the right or left sided centre-back, with Diop concurring.
"I just do what the gaffer tells me to do," he said. "If he wants me to play on the left, I'll play on the left. If he wants me to play on the right, I'll play on the right.
"For me, it's the same. It's not really about playing on the left or on the right. It's more about how the gaffer wants you to animate."
When asked about Diop ahead of last weekend's 2-1 home win against Fulham, Blues boss O'Neil said: "I thought we defended better at Everton (1-0 away loss). I thought we didn't have so many errors in positioning and stuff.
"The group hasn't been together long and we're still working on those relationships. But whether it's been Greavesy and Issa or Dara and Issa, there are very promising signs there that it can develop into real good partnerships.
"Issa has been a great addition for us as a newly promoted club. To be able to add someone of his stature and his Premier League experience was an excellent one for us to be able to get done."
Ipswich sit 10th in the Premier League table after claiming nine points from their opening six games (W3 L3). The Blues return to action at table-topping Manchester City (W6) on Saturday (3pm).