Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’ll speak to trialist Jerome Thomas about his situation but that deal is unlikely to be done on what’s almost certain to be another very quiet deadline day at Portman Road. McCarthy says he’s not sure he could have found the players to strengthen his side, although revealed he had made one or two enquiries regarding some younger players.

As TWTD revealed on Wednesday, Thomas, 32, has been training with the Blues having been released by Crystal Palace last summer and McCarthy says he’ll talk to the ex-Arsenal, Charlton and West Brom winger in the days to come.

Thomas played in Friday’s behind closed doors friendly against Southend, which ended in a 1-1 draw, but isn’t involved in this afternoon’s U21s game against QPR.

“I’ve got to speak to him and, of course, he’s a free agent so he can sign at any stage, there’s no great hurry in terms of today,” McCarthy said.

“It’s not one where I’ve been looking at him for a little while. I actually had him in the building at Wolves and was going to sign him and he got a better deal down at West Bromwich Albion. But I’m not holding that against him, quite clearly, I’ve had a look at him again.

“He’s a very talented player but he’s not played for quite a while. But, like I said, it doesn’t have to be done today.”

Asked whether he was disappointed not to have strengthened his squad during January, he added: “I’m not sure I could have done. Yes, I could go and get somebody different, but I’m not sure I could go and get anybody better, who would come and replace what I would say is my first team.

“I could go and get somebody else, whether they're better than what I’ve got with the budget that I would have to pay for players, for loan deals, for wages.

“We’ve had a look at a number of younger ones that I’ve talked about, we’ve enquired about, but they’re non-starters really in terms of the money.

“It’s always nice to bring somebody in, it might freshen you up for a couple of weeks, but if they’re better than what I’ve got then I’d have had to spend a fair chunk of money and I don’t believe in just bringing players in for the sake of them.

“And I’ve got two players for every position. I said previously, before the 11 o’clock bell rings, I’m happy with my squad, I’m delighted with them.”

He added: “I’d have to go out and pay a lot of money to get better than what I’ve got and I don’t think that’s going to be the case. I’m happy.

“I’ve not been looking, not too much, because there’s no point in me saying I’m happy and then behind closed doors scrolling through all these players thinking ‘I might get something else’. No, I’m pleased, the lads are great.”

The Blues boss confirmed he’d still like to get youngsters such as Josh Emmanuel, Myles Kenlock and Adam McDonnell out on loan, but says that’s now more likely to happen once the emergency loan window opens next week.

U21s: Marsden, Emmanuel, Morphew, Robinson, Kenlock, Guldbrandsen, McDonnell, Hammond, McKendry, Ford, McLoughlin. Subs: Wright, C Smith, Blanchfield, Meldrum, Ramadan.

Photo: Action Images

Keaneish added 20:07 - Feb 1 Geminimustang - Milne said there was money to spend at the start of the season if we need it. So far we have Fraser and AMN on loan...so where's the money? And before someone says, "but who would you sign?", my answer would be that I have a TV set and a sky sports subscription, not a 100 year old professional institution with a large global scouting network! Having said that, if pressed, I would have definitely gone for Pritchard. I'd look at Lafferty too. Right back? Not sure but why not go back in for McGhee?

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bluefeast added 20:12 - Feb 1 1st 11 are mid championship standard playing above their ability , 2nd 11 are lower division 2 as an 11. So as Mick says he can't afford to improve. God help us under the stewardship of this manager , if we played a style of football we may actually be able to play players in position. As we don't play a style we may as well have murphy at the back and berra up front ,same tactic ,hoof ,then hoof a bit more. Hence i used to always go , and now i reckon i will watch a total of 6 or 7 games. Im sure there must be 5000 or so like me. Wish he would leave and we appoint the portsmouth coaching staff ,who clearly understand how to play with and without the ball ,modern thinking men as opposed to the rubbish on offer, He is poor fit for us ,but a good fit for the faceless owner ,both clearly do not care about fans and entertainment

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thebeat added 20:19 - Feb 1 Not all about money for me, im sorry but you cant tell me there arent players out there available on a free or on loan who arent better than some of our squad. Especially the likes of Douglas who will be straight back in after his ban even if we win all 3. Lets face it we could play an arthritic tortoise in there and it would produce more.But Mick likes him so thats all that matters. Micks not bothered, he has his contract,he has his favourites and if he has no money to spend theres no pressure on him to drop them.As long as we flirt with the play offs every year without having the cutting edge to go up Evans cant moan. We are now just a stagnant boring club and its very very depressing.

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rob1987 added 20:21 - Feb 1 this is so frustrating we have a relatively decent starting eleven but we have very poor back up players as result against pompey proved if we get injuries loss of form our season could well peter out if mr evans had geniune ambition of getting the club promoted he could go out there and bring in two three players for us he would not have cost the earth mccarthy has proved he has the ability to spot talent with likes of sears mings, moncur at col u would not cost that much but what exciting player he would be for us go out get decent hungry players from prem on loan you do wonder what evans actually wants and what he thinks signing the likes of foley and digby is not the answer for the play offs if you want promotion you have to spend there no way we can ever achieve this unless we do getting players on frees that no else wants is not the answer having pop at mm is not fair he can only work with the scraps me feeds him wheres the ambition ?

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10dackj added 20:25 - Feb 1 Phil is anyone still at Ipswich??????? I'm not looking for details I'm looking to know if they've packed up early as per or if there is a chance something may happen worth staying up for
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10dackj added 20:25 - Feb 1 Phil is anyone still at Ipswich??????? I'm not looking for details I'm looking to know if they've packed up early as per or if there is a chance something may happen worth staying up for
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bluesi added 20:26 - Feb 1 bluefeast-refreshing,you talk a lot of sense and you have actually done something about it,by not going to many matches! I wish more of the moaners on here at least took a leaf out of your book?If you guy's don't like the kind of football being played,then don't bloody well go!!!simples😆
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runningout added 20:29 - Feb 1 adding to our squad is essential as we have more than enough donuts that don't wish to improve.. I don't forget defeats to the likes of Brum and Reading easily..
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dirtydingusmagee added 20:50 - Feb 1 3stars i marked you up for the biggest ever post,
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TimmyH added 20:50 - Feb 1 Just embarrassing!...just further proof that there is little ambition at Portman Road now. McCarthy as another poster has mentioned has 'a get out of jail free card' as he's spent next to nothing so the owner will be expecting relatively little as long as we are candidates for the play-offs, is that progress from last season? well no.
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dirtydingusmagee added 20:53 - Feb 1 i was very ,very drunk at the time .
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sirmichealmills added 20:57 - Feb 1 I was going to post an opinion, but I haven't been to every game since 1954, so I'm a "casual" Fan. My thoughts aren't valid. Ps I support Arsenal now, cause de iz tha bomb and Man U ain't that good now Pps that away kit is well wicked cause it's like spainich and continentatal and that, But I don't like that horse thing on it? Wtf is that LOL
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rolly added 20:57 - Feb 1 It's almost like some fans would prefer us paying 2million on fairys like lee Martin and Tamas Priskin and be at the bottom of the league then have a hardworking, gritty, passionate squad competing for the play-offs... Imagine what some of the players would think if they read all these pathetic comments, it really is a joke. The fans are by far the worst thing about this club. So fickle. Pressume you lot won't be coming to the play-off semi's then? No?! Tw*ts!!

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wayway added 20:59 - Feb 1 This once great club has now become a joke and a sick one at that. By the way, did you Williams play 40 mins for M K Dons yesterday and not get injured. Must be a record
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grumpyoldman added 21:07 - Feb 1 Rolly without something changing either, style, players or tactics none of us will be going to the play offs
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TimmyH added 21:19 - Feb 1 Get your facts right @rolly - Lee Martin actually was quite a hard worker down the leftside even when we didn't have the ball, what let him down was his crossing, creative abilities and failure to find the back of the net. Play-off semi's!?! - blind faith.
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rolly added 21:28 - Feb 1 TimmyH - blind faith?! We are two points off (with a game in hand) with well over half the season gone!!!! Don't get me wrong, I would of LOVED it if we splashed 3 million on a goal scoring midfielder today, but some of the comments on here are well OTT, it's really unbelievable! Back your bloody team for fcuk sake!!
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Len_Brennan added 22:14 - Feb 1 Rolly: You have no idea what you are talking about. As for the fans being fickle, I think you'll find that that most are consistent in their views. Having 2 distinct groups with consistent opposing views on certain situations does not make town fans fickle. Oh & while I'm at it, it's "would have" not "would of" - the older I get the more annoying stuff like this is to me.

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thebeat added 22:18 - Feb 1 rolly you cant back what you dont believe in. This team is not good enough to go up. Fact.
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MrDiddle added 22:23 - Feb 1 Things seem to have quietened down on here. Most likely all the manchildren fans have gone to bed. Goodnight you miserable little s**ts. Up the town!
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thebeat added 22:34 - Feb 1 This guy ^^^ 😢😢
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Keaneish added 22:35 - Feb 1 If disillusioned fans keep the likes of nonsense posters like you away MrDiddle then more power to them.
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MrDiddle added 22:49 - Feb 1 I doubt that's going to happen @keanish. Did your mum buy you some fifa points and let you stay up late?
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10dackj added 23:07 - Feb 1 Why Bradley, I already have 'Dack' on my Ipswich shirt :(
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blue24 added 23:11 - Feb 1 I swear most of you are scum fans just trying to annoy me, you say the style of football and our "lack of ambition" are an embarrassment well look and listen to yourselves you moaning miserable spoilt little kids.
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