Town boss Mick McCarthy believes there’s more to come from on-loan Manchester United midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe, who extended his spell with the Blues until the end of the season earlier in the week.

McCarthy says he’s been delighted with the 21-year-old but believes Town fans are yet to see the best of Tunnicliffe, who has another 18 months on his Old Trafford contract: “He brings a bit of added drive to the team, forward thrust to the team. Strangely enough, he hasn’t scored yet, he’s had his chances and I think he will.

“Maybe the fact that there’s none of this ‘Will he? Won’t he?’, we know he’s here, maybe that will help him as well. He’s settled here now until May 4th, and beyond.

“He brings an added bit of drive and forward thrust, a bit of craft and guile, he’s got a pass in him and I think he can do more.

“When he came he played on the left and what I liked about him was that he went and played there and was good there without any complaints. He played well.

“But since he’s gone in the middle I think he’s been better still. As I’ve said, the fact that he now knows he’s going to be here means he can settle down. He’s not thinking that he might be off and might be going back to play at Manchester United.

“That’s not going to be the case for now, but if he keeps playing the way he is with us, then that might change for next season.”

As the Blues move into the second half of the campaign in sixth in the Championship, McCarthy believes a good spirit has developed within the squad, but says that’s something he’s had at all his clubs: “Wherever I’ve been I’ve never struggled with team spirit.

“I’ve had some really good assistants, I had Ian ‘Taff’ Evans at Sunderland and Wolves [these days a scout for the Blues] and now TC. They make a huge difference to it and you try and get good characters in the place as well.

“Without good players and good characters, if it starts going tits up the first thing people do is start pointing fingers.

“I think I’ve got some really responsible players that don’t start pointing fingers and blaming other people.

“And there are plenty of laughs. I am one of the biggest piss-takers, you might be aware of that already!”

Photo: Action Images

BlueMachines added 07:27 - Jan 3 Not as good in the middle as we'd all thought he would be when he was playing on the left. For me off the boil a little before Christmas but seems to be back in better form again now and hopefully knowing he is now a Town player for the rest of the season will benefit him, and therefore us!!
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bluefeast added 07:35 - Jan 3 May 4th and beyond , interesting quote. Play off signal from MM and or signing on permanent basis.
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oscarwhiting added 10:17 - Jan 3 Bluefast. We have to pay his wages until June I think.
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MaySixth added 10:52 - Jan 3 “Without good players and good characters, if it starts going tits up the first thing people do is start pointing fingers" Spot on. Exactly what happened under Jewell!
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jas0999 added 21:29 - Jan 3 Maysixth - completely agree!
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