Boss Mick McCarthy says midfield trio Anthony Wordsworth, Stephen Hunt and Jay Tabb gave him something to think about with their displays during Saturday’s 1-0 home victory over Bolton.

With Luke Hyam out injured and loanee Ryan Tunnicliffe having moved on, Hunt and Tabb started in a central three with Cole Skuse, who was replaced by Wordsworth in the 32nd minute after suffering a head injury.

McCarthy pulled out of a deal to sign a midfielder to replace Tunnicliffe on deadline day — almost certainly Paul Green from Leeds — and plans to look at the emergency loan market when that window opens for Football League clubs next Saturday.

The Blues boss hasn’t ruled out a return for Friday’s target but says other players may become available in the wake of clubs’ transfer window business.

However, he says Tabb, Hunt and Wordsworth did their case for more regular involvement at the centre of midfield no harm at all: “I think there’ll be clubs who have taken lots of players in who’ll be having a look and a change around.

“If I need somebody, there’ll be somebody but Tabby, Hunty and Woody have given me plenty to think about.

“I keep saying, I’ve got a good squad and Woody’s added to that today and it’s up to him.

"I thought Hunty and Tabby were different class, considering they’re both supposed to be wide lefties.

"I’ve got a good squad, I’ve not got a big one, but I’ve got a good squad, which is proven as we’re in seventh spot. But we couldn’t afford too many injuries, that’s for sure.”

McCarthy subbed Wordsworth towards the end because he was exhausted having recently missed a fortnight’s training due to illness and wasn’t considered for a start for the same reason: “He knew why he was coming off, he knew because he’s not had that much football.

“It’s only a few weeks ago, after the Preston game, that he ended up with tonsillitis and he didn’t train for two weeks.

“He came back and had a really hard week and must have thought he’d got a chance with the midfield a bit bare, but I said I needed energy, fitness and running power and he’s not going to give me that at the minute because he’s not up to it. He took it in the right way. It wouldn’t have bothered me if he hadn’t.”

Hyam is likely to be back from the gashed leg he suffered at Millwall in time for next week’s game at Barnsley, while Skuse is also expected to be fine for the visit to Oakwell with his head injury not serious.

Photo: Action Images

rambohambo added 06:03 - Feb 3 Alot of people were criticising Tabb wen they saw his name on the starting 11, i thought he was are best player against Bolton and made some really good passes which i have never seen hyam or skuse make
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rogie_dog added 06:35 - Feb 3 He had a good game at Leeds too @rambohambo
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Keaneish added 06:52 - Feb 3 Yep, not sure why Mick Mills keeps referring to him on the radio as a wide left midfielder and not sure why MM insists on playing him there, he's clearly better in the middle. Hunty on the left, taylor on the right and Skuse in the middle, that's probably our best midfield four.
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Mark added 07:57 - Feb 3 Hunt particularly played well I thought, showing he is even good in the air! I am pleased there is a reason for Wordsworth's substitution rather than McCarthy being unhappy with him. We need Anthony to show what he can do now that our central midfield options are so limited. Great news that Skuse's injury is not serious.
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Popeye added 08:22 - Feb 3 Hopefully MM will have better luck at signing a midfielder on loan than Arsene Wenger!
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theobald1985 added 08:24 - Feb 3 tabb was bloody awful on saturday he runs around alot which makes him look busy but makes nothing happen he is not strong enough and cant understand why people think he does any good. he runs alot but is that enough? if you are as small as he is you need to be extra good and he deffo is not
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sotd78 added 08:43 - Feb 3 Tabb was actually very good on Saturday. He effectively played Mark Davies (their playmaker) out of the game. We had a Bolton fan sitting with us - who remarked exactly that. It is quite eye-opening sometimes to see what the other team's fan sees. He said Hunt, McGoldrick and Tabb were the best three on the park. I agreed. But then I've only seen about 1200 games at FPR so what would I know....

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IamSpartacus added 08:54 - Feb 3 Obviously a game of opinion, but actually thought Tabb was pretty awful in the first half. This wasn't entirely his fault as we were swamped in Midfield by Bolton, but we failed to get any control until the 2nd half. The 2nd half he was better, nipping at Bolton, harassing and breaking the game up. Great to finally see Wordsworth get a bit of time again, and I thought Hunt was probably our best player- all action, all over the pitch and all over Bolton.

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carlo88 added 09:09 - Feb 3 would be greaty if Woody could get a few gamesies, either as a lefty, middie or even frontie!. In Micky we trustie.
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Simonds92 added 09:40 - Feb 3 Glad I've seen some other posts on here seeing the same as me on Saturday as tabb was very poor from where I was sitting. Understand Wordsworth May have been lacking in fitness but didn't seem to show many signs of that, thought he looked impressive and popped up in different areas than our holding midfielders usually do, I think he had 3 or 4 efforts on goal and I'm just a bit worried taking him off May be a further hit to his confidence. Bringing Richardson on instead certainly didn't improve us it invited pressure and gave us very bad ball retention

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Michael11 added 09:44 - Feb 3 I think we did very well to grind out a win with a weakened side on Saturday. Just having Skuse and Hyam back fit for Saturday would be a big boost to the numbers. We could still do with a loan signing or two when the window opens again though. My ticket for Barnsley arrived this morning so as Monday's go, so far so good!
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blueblood66 added 09:49 - Feb 3 I think Wordsworth will come good once fully fit, I really like him
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Wickets added 09:58 - Feb 3 Yes its good to see Tabb playing well again, i think he would be the first to say that some of his performances this season have not gone as well as he would have hoped but we will all be glad if he can retain his form of late.
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muccletonjoe added 10:06 - Feb 3 Should be back to our best midfield next week with hyam and skuse returning , anyone who can pick a 'best player' from saturday I can only presume fell asleep for an hour or so.
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battyblue added 12:08 - Feb 3 Wordsworth deserves a run in the team but he will be back on the bench come Saturday or i will be pleasantly surprised i believe him Hunt and Taylor on the field together would benefit our cause no end.
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MathieandMarshall added 12:27 - Feb 3 I had a little moan when I heard Tabb was starting but have to admit I thought he did a great job in the middle. Hunt was the stand out player for me. He plays like a young boy, full of enthusiasm and energy. I love that he even runs to pick the ball up when it goes out for a throw in. It was a scrappy game, we nicked it, took 3 points. Job done. Would like to see a couple of new faces come in on loan just to add a bit of strength in depth and also some creative spark to help us push on

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BlueVelvet added 12:42 - Feb 3 not sure about Woody, Mick, maybe lack of games, but he looks like he's chasing shadows. Hunt and Tabb were gr8
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Jimmy86 added 12:46 - Feb 3 In my opinion Woody deserves a run in the team, to show what he can do for a number of games. Skuse and hyam are too similar and in my eyes id play skuse over hyam, because he's just that bit better. Skuse can play the same role as Hyam, just better. Would like to see woody and taylor in the same team but cant see it happening
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brazilblue added 13:01 - Feb 3 Petition to play paul taylor in front of Frank contributes little Nouble.
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MajorBlue added 13:34 - Feb 3 Hunt was my MOTM but thought he was only stand out player apart from Gerken who made some quality saves. Tabb was poor first half but then so was everyone else and could count on 1 hand the amount of balls played out of defence to feet.
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mickymacsbarmyarmy added 14:01 - Feb 3 wordsworth has changed little from the odd occasion i saw him in a col utd shirt...bags of ability can pick a 60 yard pass but still stands there admiring himself for doing just that !!..tbf looked woeful leading up to half time but seemed to get better as the game went on before mick hooked him..seriously dissappointed yet again to see paul taylor as an unused substitute yet frank the plank nouble ( the worst striker ive seen bar no one in 40 years at portman road ) got the whole 90 minutes..his awareness his first touch everything about him is so bad it stinks portman road out

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TimmyH added 14:16 - Feb 3 Pretty meaningless story...they must have been on the field together for about 30 mins or so, as mentioned Wordsworth deserves more starts but not sure if we are going to see anything too creative from Tabb.
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Gazelle added 14:35 - Feb 3 Quite frankly we were lucky to go in level at half time and although we shaded the second half a 1-0 win with a penalty is nothing to brag about against a team three off the bottom. Badly need someone who can boss the midfield.
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Maverick_Mitch added 14:47 - Feb 3 Think Mick is 'magic' but sometimes seems a bit blind. Frank N is woeful and shouldn't be on the team sheet. Whereas Tales and Woody should - both creative and add a spark. Huntie is brill and always causes problems going forward. Still not sure about Tabby although full marks for effort. As for Berra I think his football brain sometimes saves him from situations he gets himself into. Would still rather see Chambo and Tommy in the middle. Can't not have Chambo in the team as his fist pump when we win raises the crowd more than the result - mint!

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Scuzzer added 14:53 - Feb 3 Looking at the whole game I thought both teams were pretty dire first half...with Bolton's finishing being appalling. Nobody in midfield had a good first half...Skuse was probably the best of them till he went off. Second half once they got themselves organised I thought it was a transformation...Tabb got into really well and Hunt giving his usual energetic display. I thought Wordy did really well in the central role...some of his final balls in advanced positions were a bit wayward but you can see that there is a tidy player in there somewhere. Another thing I noticed was the amount that he won in the air....didn't expect that. This is the time of the year where players really need to kick in and ge going....and I think we saw that happening on Saturday....all be it not until the second half. COYB...lets do it.

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