Boss Mick McCarthy says new signing Jonny Parr will have to battle Tyrone Mings for the left-back spot made vacant by Aaron Cresswell’s departure for West Ham. Parr joined the Blues on a free transfer last week, having been released by Crystal Palace at the end of last season.
Asked whether his message to 21-year-old Mings was to fight Parr, 25, for a regular role in the side, McCarthy turned the question around: "The message to Jonny Parr is that he’s got to compete with Tyrone for that place in the team, that’s what I said to him when I signed him.
"He can play both sides, Jonny, which is great versatility for us. And Elliott Hewitt’s got to compete and so has Chambo. I pick the best team as I see fit, but they’re all competing again, clean sheet.”
The Town boss says it was the right time for Cresswell to move on and that the switch — worth a guaranteed £3.75 million rising to £7 million to Town after top-ups — was good for all parties.
"I’ve said all season long that at some stage Cressy would have to go because I think he’s served his apprenticeship and needs to go and play in the Premier League now and the deal was a good deal all round,” he added.
"For us, for them, for Cressy, he goes and gets to play in the Premier League. We’ve taken Jonny Parr on a free transfer and I’ve got Tyrone Mings, who is more than capable, so we’ve got adequate back-up, I reckon.”
McCarthy says Parr and fellow new signing Cameron Stewart are settling into the squad well: "The new boys are great, they’re good lads. You can see that they work hard, they’ll fit in with us.
"Jonny’s come from the Premier League, so has Cameron really, he’s come from Hull when all’s said and done.
"I think we’ve got a bit of quality with them. We’ve got good people as well, so I’m pleased with that.”
He says Stewart’s performances during his two loan spells last season caught his eye: "I really liked him especially when he played for Charlton and Leeds and I think he gives us something different that we don’t have.
"We’ve got nice, tidy wingers that’ll tuck in and work hard and make us solid. I think he’s one that likes to take people on, as we’ve seen here, and he got a great cross in for Ty’s goal [at Shelbourne on Saturday].”
The Blues boss says the week training in Ireland will have helped the new players integrate into the squad: "They enjoy this week, it’s a nice week at Carton House. It just gets them all together and you just get to know each other, especially the ones who are coming in.
"If you’re only coming in during the day and going home [that doesn’t happen], they spend a bit of time together watching the games. They’ll go and have a beer with each other tonight and enjoy each other’s company.”
Photo: ITFC