From October 2010 until January 2011, Dobbie was only used as a substitute and failed to score any goals as he was replaced by Middlesbrough loan signing Marvin Emnes and a returning Craig Beattie. Dobbie was getting fewer chances in the first team when Jermaine Easter joined for a month on loan from Milton Keynes Dons. On 28 December 2010, in a home match versus Barnsley, Dobbie was given a rare starting place, alongside Jermaine Easter. Easter scored the only goal of the match and Dobbie impressed in what seemed to be an attacking midfield role.