Town boss Mick McCarthy says the 3-5-2 system he has employed in recent games suits new signing Jordan Spence, who is set to be in the Blues squad for the first time at Huddersfield on Saturday.
The 26-year-old was on trial with Town in September and October but wasn’t offered a deal and subsequently spent similar spells with Rotherham and Birmingham City among others.
McCarthy says the former West Ham and MK Dons man impressed him during that spell but felt there wasn’t room for the former England U21 international in his squad at that time.
But with skipper Luke Chambers likely to play regularly at centre-half rather than right-back with Adam Webster joining an already lengthy injury list with an ankle injury McCarthy is now in need of cover.
"Jordan was fine,” he said. "I think we had enough bodies at the time but at the moment we are short of bodies and if I continue playing 3-5-2 or [move to it] in any games, I think that wing-back role suits him as well as anybody.
"He’s very quick, he’s good with the ball and it probably suits him just as well as full-back, perhaps even more.”
Spence is likely to be on the bench rather than a starter at the John Smith's Stadium as he is lacking in match practice, his most recent first-team game having been last season with the MK Dons.
McCarthy wouldn’t confirm whether he would stick with his three-man backline at Huddersfield but says his options are currently limited by the lack of fit players.
"I’m not so sure that it’s easier to get three or four together, looking at it,” he laughed ruefully. "The three at the back has suited us.
"But we’ve played 4-3-3 as well, I know Huddersfield will probably line-up like that and they move the ball around. I’ll see what tomorrow brings.”
At yesterday’s press conference, the Town boss admitted that he was no nearer adding to the signings of Spence and striker Kieffer Moore, who joined from Forest Green Rovers last weekend.
Asked whether he felt Tuesday’s embarrassing FA Cup exit to non-league Lincoln City might put off any potential signings, he said: "I hope that wasn’t an audition for people coming here. No, actually I hope it was. I’d be thinking I could play in any position I wanted, I could be one to 11 if they watched that on Tuesday night.
"I’d be coming in here with a fag on thinking ‘piece of cake, I’m in the team’. You’re kidding me!
"Players move to come and play in the team, not to come and sit on the bench, so maybe somebody thinks they can improve us. Let’s think they can.”