Boss Mick McCarthy believes Aaron Cresswell deserves to play in the Premier League and admits that it will be a “real balancing act” to do the best thing for both his first-choice left-back and deputy Tyrone Mings this summer.

Mings, 21, has had few first-team opportunities since joining the club from non-league Chippenham Town in December 2012 with Cresswell’s fitness and consistency restricting him to seven starts and 12 sub appearances, having made his debut at Burnley on the final day of last season.

McCarthy says Mings, who signed a new contract until 2015 earlier in the campaign, has been unfortunate not to be involved more regularly, but is pleased Cresswell has been available to keep him out of the team.

“Had Frazer Richardson not been here - and for a long time we only had Ty as cover - he would have played at right-back [against Bournemouth],” he said.

“I’m disappointed for him, but it means that we’ve had Cressy, our best left-back, fit all season, which is why he hasn’t played. But for Ty I’m disappointed.”

The Town boss says the pair’s future is something to think about come the close season.

“We’ll see what happens in the summer with Cressy and if anything does. Because all the talk’s starting again, the speculation,” he added.

“And he deserves to play in the Premier League, Cressy. Bizarrely enough, if he doesn’t, then we could ruin two left-backs because if he stays in this league for another season he might start to think that it’s an opportunity missed.

“And if he stays in the league for another season, then Tyrone Mings won’t play and that’s going to be counterproductive for him. So there’s a real balancing act for the summer.”

Scouts from Newcastle United, Southampton and West Brom were at the recent 2-2 home draw with AFC Bournemouth again running the rule over Cresswell.

The trio are amongst several Premier League clubs to have watched the 24-year-old in action on numerous occasions this season with the Magpies and Saints both subsequently reported to be ready to firm up their interest with summer bids said to be in the region of £4 million.

Fulham have also been regular visitors to Portman Road, while Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Cardiff, West Ham, Hull City and Everton have all been linked at one time or another. Aston Villa made an enquiry in the summer of 2012.

Cresswell, who McCarthy has repeatedly said he regards as the best left-back in the Championship, signed a new contract until the summer of 2017 in December having been linked with a move to the top flight during the last four transfer windows.

If the Liverpudlian were to move on this time around his former club Tranmere Rovers would be entitled to 20 per cent of the profit the Blues would make on the £420,000 they paid for him after his switch to Portman Road in the summer of 2011.

A Football League tribunal set a compensation figure of an initial £240,000 plus milestone clauses, with only a £100,000 payment on promotion to the Premier League not triggered.

With Town adhering strictly to the Financial Fair Play rules, McCarthy is unlikely to have much of a transfer war chest at his disposal this summer unless a current player is sold for a significant fee.

Photo: Action Images

wayway added 22:04 - May 1 MM has been told to sell Cresswell and any other player who would command a fee. The money raised will go straight to the corporate Evans and nothing will be re invested. I have said many times this club is going nowhere until the corporate Evans (there is no such person) sells the club to a genuinely interested party who is not looking to make a quick buck. The Premier league multi millions are not forthcoming so our glorious owners want out

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blueboy1981 added 22:17 - May 1 jas0999 ........ it's ok to keep asking for Evans to make funds available - but if Evans himself has genuine ambitions of seeing this Club in the Premiership, could he really have confidence in McCarthy in having the attacking flair to bring in the right players to see it through to conclusion ?? Personally, I think MM is 'just' about capable of getting a team promoted (maybe) BUT actually maintaining that status may well be another story. He is far too negative in his approach to games to survive at that level - in todays modern game. Maybe in the past - but not up to it now. In today's game he is pretty much a 'safety first' dinosaur - unfortunately. Hope he can prove me wrong !!!!!!!!!!!! ....... but doubt it very much.

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Jimmy86 added 23:13 - May 1 TimmyH I see our "friend" bluemoon 09, who is actually a scum fan has graced us with his presence!!! We will be seeing his lot next season, so thats def 2 games he will go to!!
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Marcus added 06:11 - May 2 Mick's trying to get more teams interested and start a bidding war. The FFP rules get even tighter next year and we need to raise about £3m to break even, any more than that will allow cash for transfers. Hopefully Evans will increase his shirt sponsorship contribution but we can't rely on or expect him to do that (or blame him if he's not in a position to do this). The last few years have been tough for business and it's been a case of hold firm with what you've got, confidence levels aren't yet high enough for extravagance. Evans seems to prefer a well run club that is self-sustaining without debts increasing - FFP rules help to enforce this. This summer will be an awkward one as it will be the last transfer window before FFP punishments, the fun will begin next January. I'm sure there will be a couple of clubs who will (continue) to risk breaching the rules to get out of the division with only a fine (how I want QPR to mess up). Teams with larger squads will start to let higher wage players go and this will lower the transfer value of the market as a whole. The clubs to watch are those who are over spending and aren't competing at the top next January and the panic with those who have embargoes to get promotion to avoid a summer embargo. They will be forced to sell to lift the embargo. This is why Cresswell needs to be sold this window, he's playing well and his value is at its highest. Mings is also being talked up as his replacement as he's shown he's capable of playing at this level and it shows we will not be in a panic to sign another left back (which pushes up the price of players we're interested in). Let's make tomorrow's game a great send off for Cressy (and Williams).

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