Blues boss Mick McCarthy says he’ll just have to put up with central defender Tommy Smith’s regular round the world treks to play international football with New Zealand. The 22-year-old missed most of last week’s Town training sessions as he was skippering the All Whites in China, where they drew 1-1 in a friendly.

McCarthy said: “I can’t do anything about that. I don’t get wrapped up in all that. That’s the way it is and we’ll have to manage it.”

The new boss brought Smith into his side for the first time when Burnley visited prior to last week’s international and McCarthy, a central defender in his playing days, says he liked what he saw: “I thought he played well. He got better and better in the game.

“When he started he looked like he’d been out and he was playing against Charlie Austin, who pulled it down, won a few headers, then he never had a kick after that. I thought Tommy played well.”

He believes Smith benefited from having Danny Higginbotham next to him: “It’s nice to have that experience alongside him, without any doubt. He’s been playing well, Danny. I’ve been pleased with him.”

After Saturday’s 6-0 hammering at Leicester, Smith could be in line for a return when Peterborough are at Portman Road on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the deadline for Football League clubs to sign players on so-called emergency loans is 5pm this afternoon.

Photo: Action Images

bigolconnor added 06:19 - Nov 22 I'm not sure what's gone wrong but it doesn't look as though chambers is working out as a centre back. Stick smith in there again and put chambers right back. Cresswell left back and Jet on the left wing. And stick mohsni up top with dJ. And give Loach a game. And Hyam. Please.
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Dissboyitfc added 07:24 - Nov 22 I would love to see Mohsni in the centre of defence....coyb
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RetroBlue added 07:58 - Nov 22 Smith is about as much use to us as a Chocolate Tea-Pot, galavanting around the world on meaningless bloody "internationals" and then coming back to his employer fit for nothing and unbale to play becuase he is too tired , or worse , injured. Sell him !
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itfc1981 added 08:16 - Nov 22 Chambers has been shocking for months at centre half play him at right back or not at all.
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TractorBoy added 08:45 - Nov 22 "so-called emergency loans". I think that sums it up for us; these aren't emergency loans at all!
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CGrimwood added 08:59 - Nov 22 Dissboyitfc - You really wouldnt want to see Moshni CB, he played there against Walsham and looked very shaky, lucky not to be sent off as well.
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pazelle added 09:26 - Nov 22 McCarthy and Mick Mills are right, Tommy's got some serious potential - let's hope it can finally be fulfilled here!
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Wickets added 09:44 - Nov 22 Town skipper in the making, Give Luke Hyam as much game time and we will have got two more good 'ens. Get Scott Loach back in goal and start to build Ipswich Town with players who are prepared to put the club first. Remember last season was saved from disaster by the Hyam Dury energetic pairing in midfield.The prima donas at Portman road can return from where they came! for me.

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warbeat78 added 09:52 - Nov 22 (Wickets) I think it be awise move to hang on to ndaw as long as possible!!..
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Metcalfe added 10:24 - Nov 22 Tommy is a hell of a player and a graet achivement to be the skipper for such a graet footballing country full of world class players. We all need to beilve in what he can do. Huis head is a slab of meat and pace to burn. He reminds me of kevin beatie and yossi benayoun!!
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MVBlue added 10:35 - Nov 22 Tommy is our best long-term player and should be captain. coyb.
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EatonBlue added 11:35 - Nov 22 Tommy back in v P'bro please and make him captain before too long
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JordieOSBORNE added 11:54 - Nov 22 Good old tommy! ive had faith in this youth product since i scouted him in south new zealand in a rough area. Since then hes progressed as a player and as quite brilliantly 'METCALFE' Stated he is a slab of meat with pace too burn! i just hope Mick and Terry will realise his potential and place him in the starting 11 this week. Regards Mr OSBORNE and ASKEW
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walberswick added 12:46 - Nov 22 If he wants to play for NZ move to the southern hemisphere. If he wants a career in the football league pack it in and concentrate on the job at hand. Who needs experience playing against Fiji. You can get that in the Blue Square.
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kerryblue added 13:03 - Nov 22 I really dont rate Smith he has been very dissapointing at times,as for Chamers no wonder Forest didnt want him anymore
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brendenward35 added 14:47 - Nov 22 See Stockdale is off to Hull on loan pity Henderson didn't go there first
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tractorollson added 15:31 - Nov 22 Glad to see Smith doing well, would of been worth a punt getting david wright back on loan as hes gone to Gills on loan again
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MattinLondon added 15:35 - Nov 22 Its a honour to play for your country and I'm sure as a proud Kiwi, Smith feels honoured to put on his national top.
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ericclacton added 16:13 - Nov 22 Smithy is our player and he's only 22 captain of New Zealand, build the team around him, he's not perfect but he's 100% effort, strong, can head the ball. what more do you need.
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Wickets added 16:38 - Nov 22 warbeat78 yes i tend to agree with you, we would have to leave it to the manager to decided who in our loanees and indeed our own players come into the prima dona category,he's in the best place to decided!
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runningout added 17:08 - Nov 22 Sorry.. I'm bemused by so much praise, after too many shocking performances by our so called professionals
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Wickets added 17:56 - Nov 22 Well runningout, Smiths effort is there for all too see he never hides, yes he has made his mistakes but let me tell you, so did Kevin Beattie and Johnny Walk. If the rest of the team played the way he has done we would not be in the mess we are in,also some seem to forgett how young he is,lots to come from him i think.
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Talbs77 added 19:34 - Nov 22 I sensed MM frustration at Smith going accross the world for a freindly with China after the Burnley game. I think theres a quality centre back in there which I think will come to the fore with good management and experience. I get the feeling the boy will be a late bloomer and perhaps we wont see the best of him till his late 20's. However he needs to seriously think about whether he is becoming a better player by playing in freindlys against China in Timbukto. Ryan Giggs always tended to "pull a hamstring" when a Wales game was coming up. With the strife were in, perhaps young Tommy could have the odd "strain" now and again.

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TimmyH added 19:41 - Nov 22 Agreed! Mr Smith was one of our top players the second half of last season, and it's funny how after a few mistakes this season quite a few on here get on his back again, I agree I think there is a quality player in there but as for this globetrotting to the other side of the world it really can't do anything for him if he's doing it on a regular basis which he has and over the summer too. Yeah we know a few Premiership players feign injury before international friendlies so I can't see why he can't, I think under MM he will become a better player. No doubt!

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Talbs77 added 19:55 - Nov 22 Totally agree TimmyH, he will become a better footballer playing week in week out under MM management not sub standard international football. I honestly think he will come good and suspect if he was to be sold, he could become another ex player we see playing and think "why is he suddenly a good player?". The boy needs time, games and patience and support.
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