McCarthy: Ambrose as Good as Anybody Here - Ipswich Town News
Boss Mick McCarthy says new signing Darren Ambrose’s ability was no shock to him but that he was surprised that the 30-year-old was in a position where he needed to join the Blues on trial. Yesterday, the former academy player signed a short-term deal until January.
"His technical ability is no surprise to me or any Ipswich fan that knows him or has seen him, they probably know him far better than I do,” McCarthy said.
"I did ask him the question ‘What the hell are you doing here?’ He looked at me and I said ‘What are you doing here, because you’ve got such ability, you’re only 30. Why are you here trialing with us?’
"A bit of a hard-hitting question, you have to think about that one. He’s shown a desire to be here.
"What’s gone wrong for a guy of his ability? Maybe bad decisions, injuries, but he’s fit, he’s got great ability and he’s looked as good as anybody else out there, so I’m thinking ‘Why wouldn’t I?’. And he’s got Ipswich at heart as well, he’s delighted to be back.”
Having added Ambrose and with Teddy Bishop and Kevin Bru breaking into the first team, McCarthy’s midfield options have received a significant boost in recent weeks.
"I thought Kevin was excellent as that number 10 at Derby, he played really well,” the Blues boss enthused. "He’s got really good quality and Teddy was the star man for me, by a street.
"It’s lovely, isn’t it? It’s nice when you’ve got that squad of 20 and any one of them could play. It’s a big decision for me.”
Meanwhile, McCarthy confirmed that he has no current plans to offer a deal to former West Ham man Jack Collison, who like Ambrose trained with the Blues in recent weeks.
He says the Welshman is now looking at other alternatives: "He has been about. I think he’s got other options and he’s going to go and have a look elsewhere.
"I said I was cool with that, whatever he wants to do. If it works out for him, great. If it doesn’t, I’ll still have a look at him.”
Photo: ITFC
What to read next:
Hull City v Ipswich Town - PredictionsHave you predicted the Hull score yet? Sixty per cent of TWTD members are predicting a Town win this evening, 27 per cent a draw and 13 per cent predicting a home win, but what do you think?
Leeds Thrashed at QPRThe battle for promotion at the top of the Championship took another dramatic turn this evening when Leeds United were thrashed 4-0 at QPR, a result which confirms Leicester City’s promotion to the Premier League and puts the Blues in the box seat for the second automatic spot.
Gilmartin to Continue Interim Irish RoleTown’s head of goalkeeping Rene Gilmartin will continue his role on Republic of Ireland interim head coach John O’Shea’s staff for the June internationals, the FAI has announced.
Season Tickets Sell OutTown have announced that season tickets for the 2024/25 season have sold out through existing renewals, meaning no new fans will become season ticket holders for the campaign ahead.
U18s Host BladesTown’s U18s are in Professional Development League Two South action at home to Sheffield United on Saturday morning (KO 11.30pm).
Rosenior: Our Cup FinalHull City boss Liam Rosenior insists the Tigers’ home game against Town, a match which he describes as his team’s cup final, kicking off at 8pm on Saturday is an advantage in the race for the final play-off places.
Moore: To Be in This Situation With Three Games to Go is UnbelievableKieffer Moore is excited about the next nine days that will see Town travel to Hull and Coventry in search of precious points before the season ends on Saturday week with Huddersfield the visitors on a day that could, depending on what happens between now and then, see the Blues hosting a second successive Portman Road promotion party.
McKenna: We Have Big Confidence in OurselvesTown boss Kieran McKenna says his team have “big confidence” in themselves going into Saturday evening’s visit to Hull City, the first of three games which will decide whether the Blues win automatic promotion back to the Premier League after 22 years away (KO 8pm).