Manager Mick McCarthy says he’s delighted to have added right-back Bradley Orr to his squad, having targeted him during his time as manager at Wolves. The 30-year-old, who has signed on loan from Blackburn until January 26th, is set to make his Blues debut at Leicester today.
McCarthy said: "I tried to sign him when I was at Wolves and for whatever reason it didn’t happen. I’m delighted to get him in. He’s got really good experience.
"You saw I moved Carlos Edwards from right-back, I don’t think that’s his position, as well as he’s played there. I think we needed a specialist right-back, somebody who has played a lot of games in that position.”
McCarthy says a desire to get round pegs in round holes and fill out his squad were behind the signings of Orr on loan and free agent left-back Kelly Youga on a short-term deal: "We’ve got a right winger playing at right-back, as well as he’d done.
"And we’d got one left-back, although Tommy Smith can play there, but he’s a left-sided centre-back.
"Square pegs in round holes. I prefer round ones in round holes. That’s not a criticism of anybody. I’ve addressed it by getting a right-back in.”
The Blues boss felt his decision to switch Edwards to right midfield was vindicated by his role in DJ Campbell’s goal against Burnley: "The final pass for the winning goal was sublime.
"The fact that it’s on 78 minutes and he’s put such a shift in, is 34 and has the legs to beat all of them, and not only to sprint but to put such a good cross in, tells you the quality that he has. And we need that in forward positions.”
Orr has already said he’d be interested in making his move from Blackburn a permanent switch, however, McCarthy says talks are yet to take place with Rovers regarding a longer-term deal: "It’s a bit premature that.
"It’s always the same, when it gets to January, you don’t know what their circumstances are going to be and what will happen.
"But he’s a player that I like. I think it’s just wrong to talk about signing him because no one knows what’s going to happen.”
Meanwhile, McCarthy says there have been no developments regarding his former Wolves scouts Dave Bowman and Ian Evans - who he said last week he’d like to follow him to Portman Road - joining the Blues: "Nothing as yet.”