Town boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that he and assistant Terry Connor will watch winger Daryl Horgan in action for Dundalk in their Europa League game against AZ Alkmaar in Dublin this evening. Meanwhile, McCarthy says he’d be willing to send central defender or midfielder Paul Digby out on loan.

Quizzed on reports he was off to this evening’s game, the Town manager said: “Yes, I am, myself and TC are going to watch. We’re going to look at him, probably with 23 other Championship clubs. Maybe not that, I don’t think Newcastle will be there, but there will be a few watching.

“There’s a great deal of interest in him and he’s got in the Ireland squad. We’ve known about him for a long time and, of course, the better Dundalk have done and with him getting in the Ireland squad there’s just more and more interest.

“But I’ll still go and watch him live. I’ve seen him on the TV, I watched him against Zenit, he scored a great goal there and we’ve had good reports.

“It’s becoming a very public auction because whoever’s told whoever that I’m going out tonight, quite clearly the agent has told him so everybody else knows.

“So, let’s make it as public as we can and they can get as much as they want. That might not be us if that’s the case.”

Dundalk recently confirmed their third successive Airtricity League Premier Division championship.

“That doesn’t make him a Championship footballer, the team won the title,” McCarthy added. “He does look like a Championship player.

“But, as I said, the more people that go out, the more interest there is, the more money it costs.

“He’s a free transfer, it’s not a bidding war to buy him, it’ll be a bidding war to pay him and to pay the agent.

“And quite clearly they’ve done their job by announcing in the Irish Independent that I’m going out to watch, and I suppose everybody else [is as well]."

Everton, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Reading, Preston North End, PSV Eindhoven, Melbourne City, the Colorado Rapids, Sunderland, West Ham and Bolton Wanderers are among the other clubs also reported to be keeping tabs on 24-year-old Horgan, while Hull City manager Mike Phelan is also expected to be making the trip to this evening's match.

Regarding Digby, 21, who has made only one league appearance as a late sub this season, McCarthy says he has had interest in taking him on loan in January and would consider allowing the former Barnsley man to go out for a spell to gain experience.

“We did have one club enquire about him and he’s not going to be getting games, not in front of the other lads, so that would be beneficial,” he added. “Yes, I would send him out.”

Photo: Action Images

TractorCam added 13:45 - Nov 24 What a pointless signing Digby was, called it right from the start
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cornishnick added 13:52 - Nov 24 He's going for the Craic - on expenses. It's going to be one helluva p1ss up down at the Dundalk Dog and Duck.
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12th_Man added 13:54 - Nov 24 What a waste of time getting Digby in then to loan him out probably get replaced by another loan that will leave after short loan to be replaced by another loan
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Pilgrimblue added 13:57 - Nov 24 No more Irish please. Try going to Norway or Sweden or Spain surely there's more talent to choose from.
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Garv added 14:02 - Nov 24 1. If its a bidding war, why are we bothering? 2. Doesn't letting Digby go only leave us with three centre halves, one of whom is only just coming back from injury? What happened to competition for places?
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flyingdutchman added 14:31 - Nov 24 pointless you won't b here in january (hopefully)
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ITFCGloryDays added 14:44 - Nov 24 There's been quite a number of pointless signings...
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OldClactonBlue added 14:48 - Nov 24 Should try Digby as a holding midfielder. Can't be any worse.
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ITFCGloryDays added 15:15 - Nov 24 The irony that Dundalk are playing AZ Alkmaar, winning and beating them as we did to win the UEFA Cup. A lesson for McCarthy there of how this club of our stature CAN achieve. That truly was a 'Those Were The Days' moment.
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Shaun22 added 16:05 - Nov 24 wtf taking the piss mick .... in my opinion ..... we are not playing well and you want to go and see a playing who would never sign for a club that cant be in prem league... you could be doing more important stuff like sorting the team ........ i herd everton and newcastle want him.... there no way he comeing to ipswich... im a season ticket holder . but just terrible sorrry but MICK OUT .. that my christmas present

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braveblue added 16:27 - Nov 24 Why bother? Evans won't pay. Good trip I think. Fight is one of the worst I have seen from day 1. Maybe why he could not get in a League 1 team. MM gives him a two year contract. Useless.
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ArnieM added 17:00 - Nov 24 With Evans being based in Irish Republic I wouldn't be surprised if initial contact with Dundalk hasn't already be made to test out a potential deal. MM wouldn't be wasting his time going to watch this player if we weren't serious about trying to get him.
1

jas0999 added 17:02 - Nov 24 We'll well. A free transfer! Who would have thought! I suspect the club will declare the entire Murphy fee was spent on wages. Ignoring the saving on Daryl's wages of course.
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richnblue added 17:46 - Nov 24 Mick, We are not playing that well, would it not be worth getting the team out practising on the training pitch as opposed to having a jolly to Ireland.. Given our current performances you need to get a grip of those lazy gifs and get back to basics a start training twice daily. Unbelievable waste of money (my money and the other season ticket holders at that), he is never in a million years going to pull on a blue shirt whilst you are around..

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wayway added 18:19 - Nov 24 It will all depend on how high he can hoof it and will he come for minimum wage
4

rendoblue added 20:06 - Nov 24 Please town don't go and let every paying fan down yet again this January, no spending, no ambition and just more misery. Spend some money, is this the first of many that will yet again fall through. Just look at the teams who are in for him, every single English club is in a better state than us, why would he choose town??
3

blueboy1981 added 20:39 - Nov 24 ....... more garbage - no chance of him coming here if others are interested. Forget it - just like most of his verbal excrement.
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BrettenhamBlue added 22:27 - Nov 24 Sorry but I doubt we will get him. There are a whole bunch of clubs in the mix who are willing and able to pay much more money. He does look a good player, but more likely to end up at Villa, Reading etc
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BrettenhamBlue added 23:18 - Nov 24 Rendoblue: it's a bit extreme to say every single English club is in a better state than us. Portsmouth wanted to keep Webster but we approached them, our offer was accepted and we now have him. Leicester City were interested in Bialkowski a few seasons back but we beat them to the signature. Wrexham were interested in Best and we beat them to sign him up. Guiseley were showing interest in Varney prior to him resigning. We beat York City to get Coke. There are many instances where we have beaten other clubs to get signatures. I am sure other clubs were interested in Ward, Pittman, Douglas but we never heard about them. Most clubs in League 1 and 2 would love to be where we are right now.

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itfchorry added 23:28 - Nov 24 Hope that your ticket to Ireland wasn't a return MIck - We want our Ipswich back - McCarthy OUT
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DinnernotTea added 23:30 - Nov 24 A lovely little jolly up for the pair as the current crop smash it into channels in training whilst they're gone. On every corner they'll be some Irish bloke worshiping Mick because he once managed Ireland. Perfect little pick me up for the egotistical maniac as his stock goes down here. No doubt we'll hear how he managed Sunderland and Wolves again soon. Get out of my club.

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Lukeybluey added 14:43 - Nov 25 problem is, if we were to sign this lad, he wouldnt be able to do what hes good at doing which is attacking. We have seen it in the past, attacking players starting off well but over time become less effective due to mm wanting wingers primary concern being to defend and help the full back. Effectively having 2 full backs on each wing. So no matter who we sign the end result and instruction is going to be the same. I mean when I watch man city or someone I very rarely see david silva at full back. I'm not comparing this lad to david silva,but i'm saying all i want to see is him being played to his strengths.

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Seasider added 19:14 - Nov 25 Bongo Blue.Note that even though MM going to see him,thinks it is unlikely that he' ll end up here
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