Town captain Carlos Edwards has called for reinforcements to revive the club’s play-off prospects, which have suffered thanks to a recent run of just one win in seven league games.
Edwards believes the introduction of one or two new faces before the end of the January transfer window would provide a much-needed tonic to one of the Championship’s smallest squads.
Town have used 23 players this season, the fewest in the Championship, and have dropped down to 10th place in the table from a top six berth earlier this month.
Asked what he thought was required for a return to winning ways, 35-year-old skipper Edwards said: "There’s not much needed. I think the guys just need to motivate themselves again. The gaffer has done wonders with the squad that he has and whatever budget he has been given.
"Maybe he can add one or two players but that’s just me as a player saying that and it is down to him and the board to decide if he wants to bring in anyone else.
"The guys themselves need to dig deep. We know the situation and how many bodies we have in the squad. We need to go back to being hard to beat to pick up the points we need to take us back up into the top six.”
When quizzed as to whether he felt fresh blood was needed at Portman Road, he added: "I would say yes and I would always welcome a new face in the training ground any day. Obviously, you want there to be competition for places and for players not to take their eyes off the ball.
"It’s easily done and guys might get too comfortable because they are playing week in, week out, and they might not be getting the push that they need to look over their shoulders. At the end of the day it’s down to the manager to decide if he wants to do those things.
"He’s done a great job with whatever players he brought in during the summer and we just have to stick with him, have faith in him and then hopefully we can start getting the points that we need to get back up the table.”
The Trinidad & Tobago international was also asked if complacency had contributed to Town’s recent dip in form that has seen them suffer three successive defeats in all competitions.
Edwards said: "I’m not saying no but I’ve never seen it in the changing room. You always need that bit extra and if everyone gave an extra one per cent that’s a lot. I’m not saying that guys are complacent — I’ve never seen it in the changing room and I hope I don’t see it during the rest of my time here, however long that might be.
"As club captain the last thing you want to see is players moping around and thinking that they are better than what they are. I’m not seeing that and fair credit to all the players, and to the manager for keeping us down to earth. He’s done a great job.”
Despite the fact that Town have not won in their last six league and cup outings Edwards added: "I don’t think it’s that worrying. I’d rather go through a blip now than nearer the end of the season. I think it’s just one of those unfortunate situations that we find ourselves in.
"We have used fewer players than the other Championship clubs and over the Christmas period maybe the legs went a bit. But, obviously, I’m not making any excuses. We are all professionals and we need to make sure we look after ourselves away from the training ground and get as much rest as possible.
"I don’t think it’s a crisis. The lads are a bit upset about losing — no one wants to lose — but we are going about it the right way to try to get back to the unit we were before when we were getting results and picking up points.
"We have gone back to the drawing board to polish up a few things that we have been lacking in the last few games.”