Mick McCarthy has told midfielder Jack Doherty he needs to rediscover the form he showed before he joined the Blues during his loan spell back at Waterford United to stand a chance of making it at Portman Road.
Doherty, 19, joined Town from Waterford on a two-year deal for £20,000 — the only fee McCarthy paid last summer — after impressing during a trial at the club’s pre-season training camp in Ireland.
The winger is yet to feature in the Blues first team squad, having suffered from injuries and homesickness, and recently returned to Waterford on loan. The Irish season runs through the summer with Waterford playing in the Airtricity League First Division, the second tier.
"He’s gone back until the window opens, which is in July,” McCarthy said. "If he goes back and plays well at Waterford [he has a future here].
"If he comes back and he’s like he’s been before he went back, then he hasn’t got any chance, and I’ve told him that.
"When I signed him, he came and trained with us and was really exciting. He looked great and everybody thought that.
"Maybe he’s found it difficult living away but he’s not reproduced that. So unless he does, then he won’t have any chance here. He might come back but he won’t have any chance of being in the team.
"He’s not playing here, and as I said to him, we signed him on the back of his performances playing for Waterford. Well, go back and play again and see if you can rekindle it. So, let’s hope he can. He’s a lovely kid and I’d love him to do it.”