Manager Mick McCarthy isn’t ruling out further additions to his squad before the January transfer window closes on Friday but feels there’s no urgent need for more signings having added Middlesbrough right-back Frazer Richardson on loan until the end of the season.

“Possibly, but I’m not desperately seeking anybody,” he said. “The defender was really important, that gives me six defenders.

“Up until then I had my regular back four and Tyrone Mings, now I’ve got a couple of full-backs and Chambo can play centre-half, which is probably his best slot. So, I’m well covered there, and everywhere else I’m all right.”

The Blues boss isn’t expecting anyone to leave the club before the window shuts: “That’s unlikely, I’ve only got about 20 players, we had 18 outfield players on Saturday and that was including Alan Lee and Kyle Hammond.

“Unlikely unless somebody wanted to have a swap with somebody and we can turn something around. It is nice to get a fresh face in and it does give the rest of the lads a bit of a gee up if somebody comes in. It just freshens it up. If I don’t, I don’t.”

McCarthy is delighted to have added Richardson to his squad, having previously targeted the defender during his time with tomorrow’s opponents Leeds when Sunderland manager.

“He’s a full-back, he’s experienced, he’s just turned 31," he added. "He’s a very experienced, very accomplished player at this level.”

Richardson, who will be on the bench at Elland Road, is out of contract in the summer but McCarthy says that as yet there have been no discussions about him staying with Town longer term.

Photo: Action Images

SheffieldBlue1 added 11:46 - Jan 27 If by 'further additions' he means 'creative midfielder' then this is good news.
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SouperJim added 12:35 - Jan 27 We desperately need a quality, forward-thinking central midfield player. Having Hunt in the team is a step in the right direction, as is Ando if he can play more like he did 2nd half against Reading. But we've still got too many battlers and the balance is wrong, every midfield player at the club could be considered a hard-working energy type player. We lack quality.

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bedsitfc added 12:52 - Jan 27 Souperjim - we need full of energy midfielders who can tackle and ball winners when we are playing a front 3
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Wickets added 13:18 - Jan 27 Totally agree Souper jim nothing wrong with midfield battlers but it would be great to have a blend, a bit of quality in the mix, so we dont just rely on hard work.
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superblueom added 13:37 - Jan 27 I'd like to see an attacking minded centre midfielder that has the attacking vision and quality to support the strikers high up the pitch on counter attacks
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hampstead_blue added 13:51 - Jan 27 So MM hasn't publicly acknowledged the lack of creativity from the midfield. He has highlighted the lack of goals which, by default, must be stating he lacks the creativity we need. Furthermore, playing DMc in a slightly deeper and more creative position adds more grist to the mill! Come on Mick. If you have to get rid of one do it. We need goals and creativity.

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Nazemariner added 14:27 - Jan 27 It's fair to say we lack a creative midfielder, but isn't that by design? Part of the turnaround under MM has been to do with keeping it simple. The players know their roles, and those who play in the middle know their job is simply to win/retain the ball and give it to a more attacking influence. I would like to see another target man in the mold of Murphy in the squad, but other than that I am happy with the balance we've got. The table doesn't lie......we're doing pretty well aren't we?

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oldelsworthyfan added 14:56 - Jan 27 We've scored 39 goals in the Championship so far this season. Only Leicester, Derby and Middlesbrough have scored more. We've conceded 31 - the same as Charlton and they're in the bottom three. Many of us would like to see our defence 'rock solid' if we are going to get anywhere and that has been the main problem since we lost Stearman. The latest loan signing tries to address that.

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foot_kick_ball_goal added 15:01 - Jan 27 Was there any more news on the Frimpong link? He could be an interesting addition to the squad, plus he has said he wants out of Arsenal in this transfer window.
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irishtim added 15:39 - Jan 27 Matty Fryatt on loan??
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thereuser30 added 15:39 - Jan 27 Signing Frimpong would be "dench" as it were..
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Popeye added 15:50 - Jan 27 I would suspect that any swap deal would likely involve Taylor, Wordsworth or Tabb as i cant see MM letting anyone else go!
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BlueandTruesince82 added 16:03 - Jan 27 I certainly think we need the option of more creativity in the middle. At the moment we are 2/3 of the way there. A little more solid at the back and just a bit more bite at the fron and we will be right there, choice additions in the summer should let us achieve this. A defencive midfileder should still create. They are not there to just win the ball to win it and do something with it. Tackle and distribute. I think if Hyam is given time he will develop, un the mean time we need a legwinski, someone who can read the game and marshal those around him along with a killer pass to open up defences a bit more. So far so good under MM though.

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foot_kick_ball_goal added 16:06 - Jan 27 I think I must be getting old... just had to google "Dench"
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Jimmy86 added 17:40 - Jan 27 If it were me i'd go for graham dorrans from west brom. Out of contract at end of the season, but wages would no doubt prove a problem. See money bags forest are interested along with reading, middlesborough and wet sham. He the sort of midfielder we need, forward thinking, attacking, creative and can score goals. Wishfull thinking sadly
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DanLyles added 17:49 - Jan 27 If Frimpong stayed fit his signing would be a real coup. He would fit in with McCarthy's work ethic but add some energy and quality in bringing the ball forward. If Anderson continues to be positive and run at left backs then right wing may be sorted and for me Frimpong would be the final piece in the jig saw, especially now we have a specilaist right back and an out and out goal scorer in SEB when he returns.

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theobald1985 added 18:08 - Jan 27 i think hes forgetting he has loaned 2 good defenders out so he has actually reduced his defensive options.a strange move. i would have rather had the 2 young and hungry players who are our players here to be honest.would love to see garvan or tomlin.
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jas0999 added 19:05 - Jan 27 Agree with others, a forward thinking midfield player is a must. Our central players just don't score goals!
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DanLyles added 20:26 - Jan 27 Stephen Quinn is out of the picture at Hull. An excellent passer of the ball and real hard worker. I'm sure his brother Alan would put in a good word for us.
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ArnieMsBigToe added 08:48 - Jan 28 Popeye: I would agree with moving Tabb and Wordsworth on, but I think that MM/TC may want to keep Paul Taylor. He is a fighter and when heads go down, he's the sort of player that can gee up the team. I think/hope that he will still come good.
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