Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’ll continue to monitor free agents Jack Collison and Darren Ambrose in training at Portman Road but has no immediate plans to add them to his squad. Collison, 25, was released by West Ham at the end of last season, while 30-year-old Ambrose, who started his career at Town, left Birmingham City.

“I’ve said to both of them, you’re not coming in on trial,” McCarthy said. “They both live fairly locally, within half an hour, so I said they could come in and train and we’ll see what happens.

“Both of them have improved training and have enhanced training. Sometimes you take players in and after one session you’re going ‘he’s not for me, he’s got to go’.

“But these two lads have been great, we’ll just see what happens. They’re both out of contract, they can both sign for any club at any time, not within a window, so I’ll just have a look and see.”

Collison, who was previously on trial at QPR, made his first appearance in a Town shirt in the U21s friendly at Lowestoft on Tuesday.

There appears to be a vacancy for a midfielder in the Town squad with Anthony Wordsworth having joined Rotherham on loan.

McCarthy says the former Colchester man needs to play football, having appeared only fleetingly for the Blues.

“He’s gone until January 10th,” McCarthy added. “Woody’s been here for nearly two years now and he’s not yet made 10 [league starts] for some reason, whether that’s injuries or not being picked.

“He has to go and play. He wants his career to get back on the rails and if I’m not picking him over two years, then it’s time I tried to do something else.

“I’ve got Teddy Bishop, one of the young lads coming through from the academy, from the U21s. He’s doing well and we signed Kevin Bru and he’s doing well, so it’s time to change it around, I think.”

Could Wordsworth join Rotherham permanently? “That’s not even been mentioned. Steve Evans lost Paul Green with quite a nasty injury and he just needed a replacement, so I hadn’t been playing Woody and he’s taken him until January.”

Photo: Action Images

mutters added 15:10 - Aug 22 well i didnt realise that Ambrose was training with us. It was a shame when we sold him to Newcastle as he looked very useful back then. Be interesting to see what hes got left in the tank @ 30. He could do a good job for us.
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pazelle added 15:11 - Aug 22 Interesting to see Bishop is being considered. Chuck him in I say! Good to hear Bru's adapting as he looked a bit lost against Fulham. Also, he's definitely changed to a more positive stance regarding Ambrose. He'd give us top quality balls if he's up for the graft. Not arsed about Collison purely because he's such an injury prawn.
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Devereuxxx added 15:13 - Aug 22 Would have thought Collison has a much better chance of being signed up than Ambrose. Ambrose has really not impressed at any championship club for a couple of seasons, Birmingham fans especially seemed to despair at his regression. Although reinforcements are needed, I really don't think he's the answer Interesting comments about Bishop though, could see him getting some pitch time this season, which would be most welcome.

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TimmyH added 15:17 - Aug 22 What does 'monitor' mean?? sounds like he's being very lackadaisical about it. 'They're both out of contact and can sign for a club anytime, so I'll just have a look and see'. - see about what? what club snaps Collison up! Personally not bothered about Ambrose but we desperately need to sign some creativity in midfield or somebody with a bit of quality sooner rather than later.

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Bluetone added 15:19 - Aug 22 McCarthy added. “Woody's been here for nearly two years now and he's not yet made 10 [league starts] for some reason, whether that's injuries or not being picked." You must know the reason even if it doesn't make sense to some Town fans.
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TimmyH added 15:22 - Aug 22 ...Mick bigging up Bru and Bishop (not that I have any qualms about a youth player coming through) just sniffs of no loans for the moment...which in my mind is disappointing!
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jas0999 added 15:23 - Aug 22 Both have injury problems, whilst ambrose didn't do very well when he returned last tine. Is he really the best we can attract? With so many players leaving, we seriously need to strengthen the squad. Not just two players either. Defence and strike force have fewer options than last season. Midfield, well what midfield!
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arc added 15:26 - Aug 22 Isn't this exactly what you would say publically if you were starting contract negotiations with one of the players? Just saying...
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parhamblue added 15:42 - Aug 22 Mick knows the midfield is not doing all that's needed, including goals tally. He has now said it's time to change things around - who he picks for the squad at least, and most likely some new signings. With the defence it's more a case of ironing out some errors that have crept in early season and who claims the left back berth. With the strikers, you can never have enough, but we've already made two new signings and have a settled front two. The squad is better off in the wide positions as well. We're very early on in the season, and the Premiership squads are yet to be confirmed. These early weeks have been all about discovering who isn't in the picture - that's fine by me. It doesn't matter about Ambrose and Collison. If they sign they sign, if they don't it will be because there's better out there. Onwards and upwards, folks.

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kesgrave_bluey added 15:46 - Aug 22 together they haven't played more than 20 games last season. haven't had a pre season. both have history of injury. why were they released? why are they free? why are we the only club considering them? why didn't Rotherham sign them MM OUt Eddie Howe IN
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minesapint added 15:47 - Aug 22 I remember another ex-Town player who trained at Portman Road just to keep fit when no one seemed to want him. Then he got a series of weekly contracts. Then a proper contract and he became a key figure in John Lyall's team.
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Monkey_Blue added 15:50 - Aug 22 Some fans on here are just being ridiculous. Woody wouldn't make most fans first choice 11 yet when The manage who has 3 decades experience in football and a good track record as well as seeing the player everyday decides he's not going to be key, everyone knows better. Also they expect MM to tell them every detail even if it isn't for the best of the club. MM plays down this stuff and even misleads because in the end he is doing what he thinks is best for the club. I wouldn't object to us signing collision and or ambrose, both of whom are better quality than the likes of woody and taylor. Mick appears to understand that it's great to be straight and honest but there are times when playing the management game that declaring you hand isn't the best thing for the club.

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parhamblue added 15:53 - Aug 22 Eddie Howe flunked it at Burnley. He is back where he is known and is comfortable. So far it's going OK but he has spent a lot. Think Malky Mackay coming back and managing the budgies ... oh wait
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 16:12 - Aug 22 There really is nothing being said in this article based an answer to one interview question. He's not being lackadaisical about signing them, he's not hinting at loan signings or no loan signings, he's not confused about why Wordsworth hasn't played, he's not promising that Bishop will get a start. It's just a basic "something to say" response to a question. Basically, "No comment" without the "no comment"!

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Harlowtractorboy added 16:17 - Aug 22 What is Mick doing we are letting players go out on loan but not getting anyone in. We have a small enough squad now . I do fear for us in the long run
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TractorCam added 16:43 - Aug 22 Collison yes, Ambrose is no better than Wordsworth
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Superblue95 added 16:55 - Aug 22 Ambrose couldn't get in an awful Birmingham team...afraid he's past it. Collison would be more promising in my opinion
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CanadianBlue added 17:13 - Aug 22 Think it's time for some more signings. It's nice to hear Bishop being mentioned but isn't the goal to get promoted? We had problems with squad injuries last season and we're in a worse position in terms of available players. Here's hoping it doesn't backfire.
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GerkensBeard added 17:14 - Aug 22 Well well well, so much it has been bemoaned that were letting players go when we have no strength in depth, but now we could possibly sign two very technically gifted players on frees and now people are picking and choosing. Collision is a no brainer and I could see Ambrose reproducing the form 5 or 6 years ago in his beloved town shirt but doubt he would work hard enough for MM. Collison, Ambrose and Williams would be very nice.

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buryblue77 added 17:21 - Aug 22 We've got enough wide players so I'm not bothered about Ambrose, wouldn't mind if he did sign but we don't need him. Collision, however would add a touch of attacking quality to our midfield. Come on Mick, sign him up. I do realise that a lot more goes on behind the scenes than any fan realise but a statement like this says at you're not really interested, it possibly invites other clubs to look at him and make an offer and it's not like we are loaded with options in central midfield. It just comes across as being a bit laid back to the fans about a player who many of us would like to see here.

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Fatboy added 18:39 - Aug 22 Don't we train at Playford Road?
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kesgrave_bluey added 19:20 - Aug 22 all this talk of signings and the lads already brought it, there's only one problem. none of them have the quality or abilty or fitness to improve our 1st eleven.
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tractorkent added 19:27 - Aug 22 Please don't mention these players ,if their creative then give them a chance!!!!!
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Surco72 added 20:43 - Aug 22 Ambrose, Garvan Colliston all better than what we have
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Surco72 added 20:45 - Aug 22 Anyone who thinks Howe would not be a better manager is mental it doesn't take money to teach the right way to play football
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