Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’s delighted to have added Brett Pitman and Ryan Fraser to his squad, the pair having signed from AFC Bournemouth at the end of last week as Tyrone Mings moved in the opposite direction for an initial £8 million.

Scotland U21 international Fraser, 21, has signed on a season-long loan, while 27-year-old Pitman has joined on a three-year permanent deal with Town having an option to keep him for an additional campaign.

“I’m delighted,” the Blues manager enthused. “Brett Pitman is a really good striker with a good goalscoring record.

“He’s one of those that can play up against the centre-backs, he has a good presence about him, but he’s a clever footballer, he can drop in and play.

“And Ryan Fraser, I think he’ll get bums on seats and off seats with the way he plays, the way he gets at defenders.

“He’s just going to be a revelation. He’s got pace and power and trickery.

“He’s a winger that takes people on and puts crosses in, and he’s got a goal in him. He’s a good footballer and another good character, they’re both good lads. I’m delighted that we’ve got the two of them.”

Asked whether he felt Pitman could form a partnership with Daryl Murphy, McCarthy said he was confident that any of his four senior frontmen could work together.

“I would hope so,” he said. “We’ve got David McGoldrick, who, lest we forget, was the top man the year before, and we’ve got Freddie Sears, who was outstanding last season having signed from Colchester.

“Yes, we could field any permutation from those four players, I think. We’ve got good options there.”

Elsewhere, former Blues keeper Cody Cropper has joined Championship new boys the MK Dons following his release by Southampton.

US U23 international Cropper, 22, came through the Blues academy and was named on the first-team bench on a number of occasions without making his senior debut before being released in July 2012.

Photos: TWTD/ITFC

Photo: Action Images

muccletonjoe added 06:20 - Jul 1 Might be a very different starting 11 on first day of season to the one which finished last season
1

gorse added 06:29 - Jul 1 It's going to be very interesting to see what happens up front, and probably controversial :)
1

TheSelkirk added 07:07 - Jul 1 A winger taking people on - anyone taking people on - would be a pleasant change. It would be great to have a player/s that can excite the crowd again!
6

battyblue added 07:12 - Jul 1 But Mick don't like players with flair he has stated this before .
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tractorboybig added 07:16 - Jul 1 Well he ai'nt gonna say nuthing else is e.
0

ArnieM added 07:59 - Jul 1 MM much maligned style of play over his two years with us has in part been due to the players he's been able to get in. It has been suggested that he has been searching for those wingers....The right type of wide men. Well he seems to have got his men finally. Stand back and watch this Town side metamorpharize into a fast, attacking unit with the ability to mix it up and also play the long ball. We're in for a treat this season!

18

ArnieM added 08:02 - Jul 1 Batty blue. I suggest you watch his Wolves side which gained promotion under him. They ran us ragged down here that season with two fast attacking wingers beating us by 3 goals. You know so little don't you!
18

SohoBlue added 09:23 - Jul 1 Mick is collecting a versatile squad, and it's great to see him getting home-grown youth in there, too. There's a lot of promise here. Fraser, Maitland-Niles , Bish and Sears would suggest few teams would want to leave themselves over-committed against us, and that we finally stand a chance of playing through teams. Great stuff, Mick and team. Keep it coming!
6

scooby added 10:43 - Jul 1 Well pleased with these two additions.fraser was their best player at pr last season.class in the making
1

blue_movies added 10:43 - Jul 1 if you want to get out of this league look at Watford and Bournemouth, and try and work out what they have in common. No its not hoofing it up the field or not being able to string 2 passes together. Glad everyone is happy with mid table Mick.
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IndianTractorBoy added 10:46 - Jul 1 Exciting times ahead. COYB :)
1

PJH added 11:05 - Jul 1 One thing that Watford and Bournemouth have in common blue_movies is that they could not beat Ipswich.
12

blue_movies added 11:11 - Jul 1 Come August and they're running out in the PL, that's all they'll be thinking about.
0

PutneyBlue added 11:26 - Jul 1 Bart Ambrose, Chambers, Berra , Parr Fraser, Skuse, Bishop, McGoldrick Murphy, Sears and Pitman sharing the game
0

Lightningboy added 15:18 - Jul 1 Hope Sears isn't going to get the rough end of this..he's been a revelation since signing and should be nailed on as Murphs' strike partner next season imho. Ideally i'd like to see us going with a 433 in our home matches.
1

bohslegend added 15:40 - Jul 1 I think it gives us a very credible option to play 4-3-3 if the manager needs to use it. Any three of the four together would be a proper handful. And with the younger lads coming in, we also have some excellent options out wide if needed. I think we'll find yet again that MM doesn't just stick to one shape, on any given weekend he could put out either shape, And there's even a 3-5-2 option available to him if needed.

1

blueherts added 17:32 - Jul 1 Quite amazing good news story, season not even started and the usual half wits are on - must be the heat . This bit of Mings business is outstanding and dont be surprised if a couple more come down the pipe Looking forward - I am not sure where the nagatives are gonna be watching football next season - Udinese reserves ?
0

DrJeckyll added 19:11 - Jul 1 A striker with a good goals record, and with TC coaching him should improve even more :-)
1

ChateauWines added 07:43 - Jul 2 Im getting a fimbly feeling about this season
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