Boss Mick McCarthy believes Town’s regular 4-3-3 formation should suit new loan signing Noel Hunt. The 31-year-old, the younger brother of Blues winger Stephen, has joined from Leeds until January with a view to a permanent move.

“The Hunt sisters are fit and well, they’ve been getting pelters today, the pair of them,” McCarthy joked.

“Noel, I think it was here that he fractured his back and he’s a bit of trouble since with his hamstring and other things.

“But he’s been fit since March and he’s not had a look-in. He’s played in the last six U21 games for Leeds, I believe.

“He’s fit and when he’s fit he’s a real handful, he’s a good player. I’m delighted to get him down here.”

He added: “I would say Noel Hunt can do the 4-3-3 with three strikers, there’s no question about that. He’s got great experience, he’s a very good Championship player and who knows what will happen between now and Christmas.

“We’re OK at the minute, but you get a couple of injuries and suddenly you’re scratching around and wondering whether you’ve got anybody for the bench. You can’t have enough strikers.”

Hunt joined Leeds in the summer of 2013, following his former Reading manager Brian McDermott to Elland Road, but his time in Yorkshire hasn’t gone well with the striker failing to score in 14 starts and eight for the Whites.

McCarthy says speculation regarding his wage also didn’t do the Ireland international any favours: “Part of the reason might be that somebody announced that he was on £25,000 a week at Leeds and apparently he can’t walk down a street in Leeds because they turn on him and give out to him.

“That’s not helped him at all. And he wasn’t actually, he was on £24,950! No, he was on nowhere near that.

“Somebody, I think it was the new owner, said it before the takeover and it’s really had a detrimental effect on him and his career at Leeds.

“I saw him play against Leicester in one of the first games of last season and he was outstanding. If we get him to that form, and let’s hope we can, we’ve got a really good player.”

McCarthy says the Waterford-born frontman or wide player will come straight into his thoughts despite his lack of first-team games: “He strikes me as a bit like his brother, who came and hadn’t had any training and went up to Blackpool [and made his debut last season] and then last month had three games in a week and could cope with it no problem.

“I think he’s fine, he’s trained today and he looks pretty good and he’ll be in the squad for Saturday.”

Regarding his brother, McCarthy added: "I asked him this morning, I said ‘Are you as bonkers as your brother?’ and he said he didn’t know! I said ‘Whatever you are, if you’re like Hunty we’ll love you because we love Stephen, he’s fantastic’.”

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

hoppy added 15:44 - Nov 27 Not changing to a Christmas tree formation then for the first Noel game?
16

Green_Army added 15:47 - Nov 27 You can tell from the outside, Mick's man management is second to none! For me it's one of the most important and effective attributes any manager can have to deliver results on and off the pitch!
11

Tractorog added 15:52 - Nov 27 So if either of the Hunt brothers score are we going to sing "The sisters are doing it for themselves!" ?
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tractorgrl added 16:00 - Nov 27 The Hunt sisters lol. Hunt N looks thinner on this photo thank goodness.Great song idea Tractorog!
3

StuartBrett8 added 16:03 - Nov 27 Not much speculation... 2 signings BOOM, the only way is up :)
5

ArnieM added 16:05 - Nov 27 Get a good feeling about these 2 signings.
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TotalBlue added 16:15 - Nov 27 Poor guy has his previous owner lying about his wages and now his new boss calling half of the Hunt sisters, as long as he don miss any siters he will be fine. Welcome to FPR Noel and best of luck be good to see both brothers on the score sheet in one game lol
4

elalaer9 added 16:23 - Nov 27 That same moth photobombed St Ledger's photo! Who is he?
4

Orraman added 17:12 - Nov 27 There is a top rugby club called London Irish. There could soon be a football club known as Ipswich Irish!! Could next year's away strip possibly be green - would make them all feel even more at home. Let's hope our two latest Irish recruits have a successful future and help us onwards and upwards.
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ITFC_Cairo added 18:56 - Nov 27 Would assume he will swap in for Bajner in the squad. Happy with that. Bajner doesn't appear to have impressed enough in U21s and his odd appearance in the first team. Hunt gives us more options and knows the league well. Could be another gem rotting in the reserves of another club due to circumstance. Mick happens to be a genius at finding such gems so I have faith! COYB!

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TimmyH added 20:24 - Nov 27 Sounds like he'll take over from Sammon in the 433 formation - wish him all the best.
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Ebantiass added 21:17 - Nov 27 Good luck to Noel and wish him well. Micks public man management is second to none. He sees the daily training and development of the players, so knows them infinitely better than us. In Mick i trust.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 22:01 - Nov 27 Send Sammon back up stream to Derby and let the hunt begin!
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Michael11 added 22:06 - Nov 27 Green_Army I couldn't agree more. You can tell that he's given the lads a licence to go and enjoy themselves at training and created a positive atmosphere around the place. I'm presuming he'll replace Sammon who I can't see staying here past January. If Noel can play as well as Stephen has in recent weeks then he'll be a very welcome addition.
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bohslegend added 23:32 - Nov 27 That's quite a large fly on the wall for this time of year... http://www.blastr.com/sites/blastr/files/styles/content_panes_media/public/image
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Paddy39 added 09:33 - Nov 28 Lets not forget the man who has put his hand in his pocket for these two imo great signings to pay their wages Marcus Evans. COYB's
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