Town boss Mick McCarthy hailed Daryl Murphy signing his new contract as “brilliant” news and expects it to end speculation regarding the 32-year-old’s future. Murphy signed a new contract which runs to 2017 with the club having an option for a further season.

“Brilliant,” McCarthy said. “I think that’s put to bed any speculation. I’ve had people on asking me to loan him, nobody’s actually asked me directly to buy him but lots of interest.

“But never did we want to sell. We always wanted to keep him and the feeling was mutual with Daryl, so he’s signed a new contract and we’re absolutely thrilled.”

It had been understood that David McGoldrick’s contract is up at the end of the season, but McCarthy says that’s not the situation: “That’s not an issue.”

The Blues boss is delighted to have plenty of options up front: “We’ve got four really good strikers. Murph and Didz were a real proper partnership but Freddie and Murph were good.

“I could see Brett linking up with any of them. It’s a problem, it’s a nice problem. If you haven’t got anybody to play that’s a real problem.”

Asked about any developments on new additions, he was keeping typically tight-lipped: “None at all.”

Winger Cameron Stewart was back with the squad in Germany having been omitted from the trip to Ireland after being made available for transfer.

“I wouldn’t tell you if there was [any interest].” McCarthy added. “I thought he did well tonight. I thought he committed himself to it and he played well. I was pleased with him tonight.

“That’s the only way he’s ever going to get back in my team and the only way he’s going to create some interest is by playing like that. I thought he did well.”

Murphy, Christophe Berra and David McGoldrick started training on Monday, two weeks after everyone else, having been on international duty until mid-June but two of them will be in the squad at Cambridge on Tuesday.

“Christophe and Didzy, probably,” the Town boss continued. “Not Murph because he’s had injuries in pre-season before and we’ll make sure he’s ready to come back, we don’t want to get him injured.

“They’ve all trained today back with Andy Liddell at Playford Road and they’re fine. They’re fine, they’ll be all right for the start, I’m sure.”

Photo: Action Images

essextractorboy93 added 20:44 - Jul 17 Callis - What a ridiculous comment, so you'd rather sell our leading goalscorer and the league's leading goalscorer to one of our direct promotion rivals? Murphy clearly loves the club and wants to stay and help us go one better this season. Pretty sure you're the only Town fan who thinks that we should have sold our main source of goals. We have a choice of four quality strikers at this level, we haven't had that for a long time! COYB!

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Stato added 20:48 - Jul 17 Callis it's called ambition. It might not work out but you've got to applaud the club for making sure we keep the divisions leading goal scorer
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Westover added 20:49 - Jul 17 Murphy is 32 years old not 34
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BlueandTruesince82 added 21:00 - Jul 17 Trolltastic
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GavTWTD added 21:01 - Jul 17 I've removed Callis' comment because he was trolling.
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bohslegend added 23:58 - Jul 17 Well done Gav. Hope this sets a precedent for the other trolls on here who continually spout nonsensical hysterical criticisms of the team and management.
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itfc1981 added 00:51 - Jul 18 Interesting that we had no Boro bid after all then.
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Wonky added 11:57 - Jul 18 Agree with boh deleting idiot troll posts is very welcome.
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jas0999 added 14:15 - Jul 18 We have some game changers on the bench. Something we lacked at times last season. The need for four good strikers is important in the Championship. Last year we had Sammon and Bajner as back up to the main two, until both left and Sears was signed. This year we have four outstanding options from the start. Sammon and Bajner were in comparison useless!
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