Mick McCarthy says he’s yet to hear from the clubs where Town players are currently on loan regarding their January plans, although he believes Coventry may well look at extending Frank Nouble’s time at the Ricoh Arena.

“I don’t go chasing them, they make their own decisions in their own good time,” McCarthy said.

“Certainly Frank’s been doing OK and scoring. I did speak to Steven Pressley because they were asking if he could play in the FA Cup.

"I said that if they fancy him long-term then he could, if there’s no chance then I didn’t see any point. So I let him play in the FA Cup and I think that Coventry quite fancy Frank.

“Anthony Wordsworth and Paul Taylor, I don’t know, they were playing for Rotherham early on, I don’t know if they’ve been playing as often lately.”

Nouble, Wordsworth, Taylor and Freddie Veseli, who is currently with Port Vale but has been linked with a January move to Bosnian side FK Sarajevo, are all likely to be available on free transfers with their contracts up at the end of the season.

Youngsters Jack Marriott, who started for his loan club Woking in last night's 3-1 defeat at Grimsby but was unable to break his goal drought, and Elliott Hewitt also have deals which currently run to the end of June.

McCarthy says he was happy to allow Hewitt to return to Colchester a fortnight ago: ”Elliott was doing great down there, they were enjoying having him there and thought he was doing really well.

“I didn’t want to bring him back and not play him but the weekend I brought him back I was down to one defender as a sub, Matt Clarke.

“On the Friday, you think ‘I’m OK, we’ve got cover’ but if like when Chambo was poorly or something else like that happens, I couldn’t leave myself down to those few numbers.

“But now Skusey’s fit, Skusey could always fill in at full-back and when you’ve got someone who can fill in a number of positions it really helps and allows us to let Elliott go out.”

Ahead of Thursday’s 5pm emergency loan deadline, he says he’s in no hurry to bring anyone in, other than perhaps a replacement for the injured Jonny Williams: “The problem with that is getting better than what we’ve got, and I don’t think that’s available to me, and the lads have done superbly well."

“Bringing anybody in, they’ve really got to go straight in the team. When you try and get people in they will be saying ‘Am I going to play, am I going to come down to Ipswich and be involved?’.

“Considering the lads that we lost, the likes of Skusey and Luke Hyam missed out, the others that came in did really well, Tabby and Kevin Bru.

“Losing Jonny Williams was a bit of a blow, we haven’t got anybody really that does the role he did, playing in behind the front three. That might be an option, if there’s somebody out there but I’m not busting a gut to do something.”

He says he might consider other additions if more fringe members of his squad go out on loan and isn’t looking as far ahead as the January transfer window at present.

“I’m not breaking my neck to do it. If something turns up that tickles my fancy and we can do it, then maybe,“ he added.

“I don’t know if any of ours can go out on loan, but if that’s the case I’d have to replace them because I haven’t got that many. That’s not going to be easy between now and Thursday in terms of emergency loans.

“We’ll see what January brings. I’ve got a whole load of games before then to worry about.”

Meanwhile, the Blues are rumoured to have made a move for recent trialist George Wells but are yet to agree terms with his club Hampton and Richmond.

The Ryman League Premier DIvision side are said to have rebuffed an initial offer of £10,000 for the 18-year-old left-back, who has played two games for the Town U21s this season and has spent time training at Playford Road.

Former Town striker Darren Bent is reportedly on the verge of joining Brighton and Hove Albion on loan from Aston Villa. The 30-year-old hasn't started a Premier League game this season.

Elsewhere, Town have sold 2,307 tickets for Saturday's game at Charlton with around 275 remaining on sale and an additional 400 available on the day.

Photo: Action Images

bontcho added 08:16 - Nov 26 Of those out of contract I'd say Hewitt is the closest call. Bit disappointed he hasn't kicked on but keeping my fingers crossed. Anyone seen him play at Col Who? How's he doing?
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wkj added 08:36 - Nov 26 I want to make a quick comparisson here, Gareth Bale and Eliott Hewett. Ok the difference is staggering, however the comparison I make is about possitioning. Bale started as a defender before they tried him as midfield where he flourished. I feel hand on heart from seeing hewitt he is a special talent, but would be much better suited and a better player in midfield rather than a defender. That is no knock on MM / TC at all, I just think the lad has more about him going forward than defending.

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brittaniaman added 08:49 - Nov 26 Well MM. just to keep you up to date,,, Taylor was subbed after 45mins. and Wordsworth was not even in the squad last Sat. !!!! that is just two of the loanees.
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OsborneOneNil added 08:55 - Nov 26 Only got to see Hewitt play midfield at Reading away, unfortunately he had a shocker.
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brian_a_mul added 09:00 - Nov 26 I see what you are saying about Hewitt as a midfielder. He is getting some games at Colchester in a very tough league, not far off championship level. We all know he is more than capable to hold him own at this level. Hw form was a bit sketchy probably from being in/out of team so a good run in Colchesters first team is exactly what he needs. Next season after a full season in Colchesters first team he will have built up really good experience. If Ty moves on in the summer, Parr will be natural LB and Hewitt could slot in to RB all going well.

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Popeye added 10:39 - Nov 26 I am a bit concerned with Marriott's lack of goals this time. If he can't do it in non-league then hows he going to make the grade at Town. His two loans spells at league clubs he only made two appearances and no goals and wasn't getting game time so I'm not sure what MM can do with him. He really needs a season long loan at a league one side preferably and needs to play regular and score a few otherwise I can see him being released.

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ChrisR added 10:57 - Nov 26 Here is comment about PT from Rotherham supporter on their fan site , seems to be in character ; "re: Taylor's lack of discipline. Can anyone seriously question my view on Taylor now? He actually had a hissy fit while he was playing. He broke out of midfield on 3 occasions and through sheer greed and lack of awareness lost possession. The Millers fans rightly gave him some stick. The next time he gets the ball he, in a fit of petulance, he launches the ball upfield. Well Paul there is a middle ground between greedy pointless dribble and the long ball and if you need someone to point out what that is you need to find another job."

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Michael11 added 10:58 - Nov 26 I live in Grimsby and watch them play a lot, so I went last night as Jack Marriott would be playing. Although he wasn't brilliant in general, he did hit the crossbar with an over head kick on the edge of the box! I spoke to one of the few Woking fans who came up in the pub before the game and they don't rate Marriott at all. They said he was brilliant last year but he's a completely different player this year.

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Paulblue62 added 11:00 - Nov 26 Love the fact that he is not busting a gut to go out and find players. Can only mean that we have a strong squad and Mick his confident with what he has. How times have changed.
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brittaniaman added 15:49 - Nov 26 ChrisR/// It looks very much that the Millers will not be extending Taylors loan ???? quite possible he will be back here to sit in the stands !!!!!!
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