Terry Connor says he’s pleased with the additions he and manager Mick McCarthy made to their squad during the January transfer window, but feels it’s unlikely that anyone else will be added when Football League clubs are able to take players on so-called emergency loans from next week.
Connor said: "I think we’ve acquired some good players. We’ve got Stephen Henderson back from West Ham, who was with us previously.
"Richard Stearman’s come in, we know a lot about Richard from his time at Wolves.
"Anthony Wordsworth came in from Colchester, who was a player we’ve watched for a number of months. We think he’s a good player who can add some creativity to our midfield. I think we’ve done well.”
He feels the squad is now in better shape for the final few months of the season: "That’s the idea, that’s why you have the January window.
"You assess your team, assess your group and where you can improve and we feel that those signings will help us to improve and push on for the remainder of the season.”
He says Stearman is just the type of player Town need in their current situation: "He’s a real competitor, he can play at centre-half or full-back equally well. He’ll bring a measure of steel and determination to the team.
"We know his temperament and his character and we know that with the games being as tough and having as much meaning on them as the next 17 games will have, he’s mentally ready to play those games. We think he’s a good acquisition for us.”
The former striker says Wordsworth has done well in his first few training sessions with the Blues: "He’s been in for a couple of days now and he’s done very, very well. He’s done everything we’d expect of him.
"His last competitive game was about three or four weeks ago, so whether he’s ready to start a game I don’t know, but he’s certainly a good addition and someone that we can work with and who will make an impact between now and the end of the season.”
Henderson’s addition gives manager McCarthy options in goal, Connor says: "Competition for places is the key phrase really. We had it before.
"When we came to work at Ipswich, Stephen was in goal. We had a five and a six and he was in goal for those, but always showed the desire to play in goal.
"We’ve had that competition before and we wanted to maintain that status quo towards the end of the season.
"Stephen enjoyed his time here and indicated that he wanted to come back and we’re happy to have him back. Hopefully, it’ll keep that competition going to the end of the season.”
Scott Loach has impressed during Henderson's absence and Connor says it’s not a fait accompli that the Irishman will go straight into the team and that so far no one has had to have a consoling chat with the former Watford man: "No one’s picked a team for Saturday’s game yet, so that chat, if it has to come, it will come.
"But at the moment we’ve got the two keepers in harness and there’ll be competition for places like always and it’s up to them to show that they’re worth their place in the team, as it is for all the players. That breeds healthy competition.”
He says there were no late moves which broke down prior to the window closing: "No, nothing at all. Richard came in, Anthony came in and Stephen came back. Everything was planned well in advance. As far as I’m aware the business was done.”
In terms of further additions, Connor isn’t expecting any as things stand at present: "You should probably asked the gaffer! We’re happy with what we’ve done up to this point. There’s always that scope.
"But what I would say is we’ve got five loanees in now which is the maximum that you can put into any one squad at any time, so anyone over and above that and we’d be leaving loan players out, which is not ideal. So, I would say it’s unlikely, but the opportunity’s there, if we want to.”