 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.