Manager Mick McCarthy he’s “not in the least bit worried’ about the prospect of the Blues receiving offers for his players in the January transfer window with owner Marcus Evans having made his intentions clear by turning down bids for Tyrone Mings and David McGoldrick in the summer.

Crystal Palace offered £3.5 million for left-back Mings, who is now interesting Arsenal amongst plenty of others, while Leicester had a bid of £7 million turned down for striker McGoldrick.

“I’m not in the least bit worried,” McCarthy insisted. “I’m not bothered. What can I do that can affect it? I’ve got an owner that’ll back me because we turned down money for two of the players in the first window.

“I’ve no doubt that he’s going to do it again. Marcus has been here for seven years and for all the money that was spent previously, this is the first chance he’s had of seeing promotion, the P-word, but we have because we’re second at the moment.

“Whatever happens over the next 24 games that we’ve got, who knows? But he’s not going to let that go. He wouldn’t do it in the summer.

“And they’re all under contracts. So that’s where I get my support from, when we keep the team together.”

He added: “I’m not steeling myself [for offers] or worried at all, and I think you’ll find that the players who are here, even if somebody comes and offers zillions for them and wants to give them five or 10 times what they’re on now and really unsettles them, I think they’re quite happy playing here and want to try and get Ipswich promoted.”

In terms of January additions, he says he'll be very careful about who he brings in: “It’s getting somebody who will fit in to what I think is required, fit in with the lads, who are a particularly good set of lads and all work hard, so there are a certain set of rules and regs and criteria they’d have to meet.

“Then, can they improve what we’ve got? If they can’t, then there’s no point really in taking them. That’s subjective as well. You think they might do but they might not. We’ll be looking, of course.”

He says it’s important not to damage the spirit within the squad when making signings: “I think you upset it if you go and buy somebody and give them stupid money or you get somebody in and leave somebody out who has been doing great for you and who has been part of the team and then they don’t do well.

“We keep talking about experience, I hope I’ve got enough not to do that. We’ll soon find out, won’t we?”

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