Boss Mick McCarthy was delighted with the impact Stephen Hunt, Jay Tabb and Kevin Bru made during Tuesday’s 2-1 home victory over his former club Wolves.

The trio, largely fringe players this season, are amongst those to have come into the side in recent games with several more regular starters out through injury.

“I did say to them beforehand that they’ve got to cause me a problem with picking the team,” McCarthy said.

“I told Hunty I wasn’t playing him and he was all upset and told me he was all right. I said ‘Are you 100 per cent?’ and he told me he was all right.

“So I told him he was playing and so he had to give me his lot or he would have been in trouble.”

Hunt, 33, who played for McCarthy at Wolves, rejoined the Blues one a one-year contract in the summer having signed short-term deals last season.

“I was delighted for him because a few questioned why I re-signed him,” McCarthy added. “I think Saturday’s performance and Tuesday’s performance spoke volumes without me needing to tell anybody why.”

The Town manager was similarly pleased with Jay Tabb, 30, and also with summer signing Kevin Bru, 25, who has quickly adapted to the rigours of the Championship.

“Tabby and Kevin Bru came in and I thought they were excellent, they ran themselves into the ground,” he said. “Bru’s a good player, he’s done really well and I’ve been delighted with him.”

Hunt, Tabb and Bru may well start against Watford at Portman Road on Saturday with a number of midfielders still sidelined.

Luke Hyam is suspended having reached five bookings and Cole Skuse and Teddy Bishop are both expected to miss out again due to their groin injuries. Jonny Williams (calf) and right-back Jonny Parr (groin) may train today and are more likely to return to action on Saturday.

Season ticket holders are entitled to purchase up to four further tickets at discounted prices for Saturday’s game. The additional tickets are priced at £10 for adults, £8 for seniors, students and under-20s, and £1 for U16s in all areas of the ground.

Photo: Action Images

neillrumsey added 17:56 - Nov 6 MM demonstrating excellent man management skills but praising the performances of three fringe players. Whilst I was one of the first to praise the excellent team performance against an average Wolves side I fail to get carried away with the performances of Tabb and Hunt albeit Hunt was industrious and gave his all. Hunt has experience and is excellent as back up but nothing more. His set pieces are woeful. For me Tabb is past his sell by date and looks lost at this level. Bru for me shows great feet and is improving all the time. Showed great technique with his second half shot and he cost nothing. Lets look for another win Saturday with Bishop and Williams back in the side.

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PJH added 18:35 - Nov 6 If you have Bishop and Williams in the same side you would also need someone to win the ball for them to use in the first place.Someone like Tabb perhaps?
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Razor added 19:13 - Nov 6 Hegansheroes agree with virtually every word. I am not a Tabby fan either but on Tuesday in a fairly desperate situation him and Hunty had a specific job to do and did it weii ie. just run around and get in their faces and stop them playing. I would not touch the defence on Saturday---perhaps Parr in midfield to stiffen it up and hope Jonny is back----fancy us again after the spirit shown on Tuesday and the crowd is also being roused to--BRING IT ON!

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Ipswichbusiness added 21:39 - Nov 6 We have a bit of a problem in central midfield with the likes of Skuse, Hyam, Bishop and Williams out for various reasons. I have always been a supported of Hyam who I think is a quality player too easily underestimated. However, getting himself suspended for all those cards is a bit daft, especially given our problems in that area.
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dusth added 22:19 - Nov 6 Neillrumsey, I was with a mate, a fanatic Wolves supporter at PR on Tuesday, and he was telling me how good they were under Jackett but afterwards said it's the first time this season a team has simply not allowed them to play. Respect was the word.
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Warkys_Tash added 22:59 - Nov 6 PJH - Ray Crawford is our all time (and likely to never be beaten) record goalscorer, so for me he just edges Mariner. But wow, what a player Mariner was too. To date, Marcus Stewart has probably been the best striker down here since those two, although McGoldrick reminds me very much of Stewart with his clever play - he is very similar & if he ever gets to show case in the Prem with Ipswich, then he could possibly surpass Stewart as he still has time.

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PJH added 09:48 - Nov 7 Warkys_Tash-I usually end up with Ray Crawford in my best ever ITFC team ahead of PM when I debate the subject with myself.I always have Mills,Hunter,Beattie,Muhren,Thijssen and Wark in the team plus usually Crawford but the other 4 places fluctuate a bit.I am one of those lucky enough to have seen all the greats since 1960.
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