Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’ll speak to trialist Jerome Thomas about his situation but that deal is unlikely to be done on what’s almost certain to be another very quiet deadline day at Portman Road. McCarthy says he’s not sure he could have found the players to strengthen his side, although revealed he had made one or two enquiries regarding some younger players.
As TWTD revealed on Wednesday, Thomas, 32, has been training with the Blues having been released by Crystal Palace last summer and McCarthy says he’ll talk to the ex-Arsenal, Charlton and West Brom winger in the days to come.
Thomas played in Friday’s behind closed doors friendly against Southend, which ended in a 1-1 draw, but isn’t involved in this afternoon’s U21s game against QPR.
"I’ve got to speak to him and, of course, he’s a free agent so he can sign at any stage, there’s no great hurry in terms of today,” McCarthy said.
"It’s not one where I’ve been looking at him for a little while. I actually had him in the building at Wolves and was going to sign him and he got a better deal down at West Bromwich Albion. But I’m not holding that against him, quite clearly, I’ve had a look at him again.
"He’s a very talented player but he’s not played for quite a while. But, like I said, it doesn’t have to be done today.”
Asked whether he was disappointed not to have strengthened his squad during January, he added: "I’m not sure I could have done. Yes, I could go and get somebody different, but I’m not sure I could go and get anybody better, who would come and replace what I would say is my first team.
"I could go and get somebody else, whether they're better than what I’ve got with the budget that I would have to pay for players, for loan deals, for wages.
"We’ve had a look at a number of younger ones that I’ve talked about, we’ve enquired about, but they’re non-starters really in terms of the money.
"It’s always nice to bring somebody in, it might freshen you up for a couple of weeks, but if they’re better than what I’ve got then I’d have had to spend a fair chunk of money and I don’t believe in just bringing players in for the sake of them.
"And I’ve got two players for every position. I said previously, before the 11 o’clock bell rings, I’m happy with my squad, I’m delighted with them.”
He added: "I’d have to go out and pay a lot of money to get better than what I’ve got and I don’t think that’s going to be the case. I’m happy.
"I’ve not been looking, not too much, because there’s no point in me saying I’m happy and then behind closed doors scrolling through all these players thinking ‘I might get something else’. No, I’m pleased, the lads are great.”
The Blues boss confirmed he’d still like to get youngsters such as Josh Emmanuel, Myles Kenlock and Adam McDonnell out on loan, but says that’s now more likely to happen once the emergency loan window opens next week.
U21s: Marsden, Emmanuel, Morphew, Robinson, Kenlock, Guldbrandsen, McDonnell, Hammond, McKendry, Ford, McLoughlin. Subs: Wright, C Smith, Blanchfield, Meldrum, Ramadan.