Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’s not just targeting a striker to replace Daryl Murphy during the January transfer window but a number of “fresh faces” to “brighten the place up”.

While the long-awaited new frontman to come in for Murphy is top of McCarthy’s wish-list, he says he’ll also be looking to add to other areas of his squad.

“I’d like some fresh faces,” the Blues manager confirmed. “I’m not going to say how many because if I say a number and I don’t get them then I’m suddenly one short or I’ve got one too many.

“So I guess I would like some to come in and put pressure on players who are in the team, who are in the squad.

“It brightens the place up a bit. Some players come in and they can light it up, it changes like that. Somebody comes in and they can score on their debut, they get a winning goal and all of a sudden the place is much brighter.

“And it just creates that bit more atmosphere, fresh faces. If we can do that, create a bit of excitement, a bit of a spark, that would be nice.”

Speaking at Wednesday’s AGM McCarthy said he had handed a list of targets to owner Marcus Evans and that he has “put a few on that might cost a few quid this year, we’ll see” rather than a list of players available on free transfers.

He continued: "If we can get them, great, if we can’t we’ll try and get somebody else and if we can’t then I’ll continue with what I’ve got.”

Speaking at yesterday’s press conference he added: “I said normally I’m giving him a list of frees, but I’ve said [there are some that will cost a few quid].

“It’s almost like you’re making excuses when you say ‘It’s going to be a hard transfer window’. But that’s not an excuse, that is a matter of fact, a statement of fact.

“Getting players in is not easy and even more so given what is being paid for good Championship players this year.

“That filters its way down, wherever you are the price is going to change accordingly and there’s no doubt about that.

“And does anybody want to sell their players? We can’t get any emergency loans in, so straight away everybody wants to keep their squad. I don’t want to lose any.

“We’ve had 17 outfield players training this morning, I don’t know too many other clubs who will be operating on that over Christmas. The list is there. Can we get them? We’ll soon find out.”

Speaking on Talksport yesterday the Town boss hinted that the players he is targeting are more likely to have Championship experience.

“They have to hit the ground, so you want players who have played in the league or been in or around it,” he said.

As cited by MD Ian Milne at the AGM, the Blues have looked to get players in that they can develop in recent seasons, Adam Webster and Grant Ward having been notable examples last summer.

“We’ve been doing that me and TC for a long time, whether it’s a free transfer that comes in the building or somebody that comes in and sits in reception like Kevin Bru,” McCarthy reflected.

“We took him and I think that’s developing players as well, isn’t it? Getting them in and getting them playing.

“The two lads you’ve just mentioned have been real success stories, Grant Ward and Webbo, I think they’re the basis of a very good team, two very good young players for the future.”

McCarthy is confident that Town will be able to hold on to their most coveted players with Webster having recently been linked with Sunderland, while a report in the Daily Mail yesterday claimed Derby, Norwich, Reading, Cardiff and Wigan have all made enquiries to Leicester regarding season-long loanee Tom Lawrence.

“They’re all under contract but we’ve seen that before with players under contract,” McCarthy said.

“I’m not sat here worried about losing them, I’m sat here more concerned about getting some fresh faces in that would provide a spark and an impetus for us so we could push forward.”

Has there been any pressure on him from owner Evans to sell to bring in the sort of fees previously achieved for Aaron Cresswell and Tyrone Mings?

“Never, ever,” he added. “That’s never been the case. We’ve sold those players and Murph went, Murph’s not played for Newcastle, he’s been injured for most of his time there, but the need to sell has been resisted in the past.

“Certainly with Didzy [when Leicester offered £7 million in August 2014] and certainly with Murph [in the summer of 2015] because last year we thought we’d have a really good chance of getting in the play-offs, and of course we finished seventh. The pressure to sell has never been on me at all.”

Photo: TWTD

lightingblue added 06:31 - Dec 23 It would not surprise me if tom Lawrence went in Jan. At his age he would want to be in a team that's progressing. Some people are happy with drifting along like they are at Ipswich but at present if your young with a bit of fire in your tummy and an ounce of ability you'd seriously look elsewhere
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battyblue added 06:32 - Dec 23 More sh-te from a sh-te manager what about our own academy players stepping up as said would happen this season at the beginning of the season and at the agm, it will be more in the Douglas/coke/best/Varney mould then,
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Sir_Bob added 06:40 - Dec 23 We should also be targeting a new manager
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Penguinblue added 06:57 - Dec 23 Leave McCarthy in the hope that we might get a football manager in. That would be the best way to freshen the place out - and the best use of money McCarthy OUT
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Benters added 07:04 - Dec 23 Maybe they are going to get the Mr.Sheen out and polish the North stand roof ? That would brighten the place up !
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christiand added 07:50 - Dec 23 How is spending money, suddenly going to change our playing style? MM's sides can't play any other way than a long ball to a big target man. Until he goes, we won't be playing any other way as he doesn't know how to do it! Doesn't matter if we have money or not, the manager will impose his style of play on the side - this is what we are now a long ball, hard working and one dimensional side.

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SheptonMalletBlue added 07:55 - Dec 23 Who in their right mind would want to join ITFC at the moment with McCarthy in charge?!! He ruins players by his mis-management, Freddie being the prime example. McCarthy Out!!!
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GiveusaWave added 07:58 - Dec 23 Not too excited to be honest. All talk and we'll most likely end up with a couple of frees last minute. Seen it all before....
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iaintaylorx added 07:59 - Dec 23 I am one for the Mick out brigade, but really now, I am starting to give up calling for his head. Us fans clearly mean nothing to Evans and Milne etc, so lets just stop all the hating and pray that our league position and manager and playing style and short wage bill and lack of money and "poor location" doesn't put players off in coming to us, eh!? At least we can try and hope...

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jas0999 added 08:25 - Dec 23 The sale of Murphy and subsequent failure to bring in a replacement has unfortunately proved very costly. Marcus Evans now needs to step forward and do what was promised - a full reinvestment of the Murphy cash. MM has identified targets, given a list to Marcus, so just like Santa on Christmas Eve, It's now 100% down to Evans to deliver the goods.
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Brownie added 08:40 - Dec 23 I have to agree with Iaintaylorx ... I would rather change the manager but it'd won't happen. I just hope that my negative thoughts about the future if this club are wrong. In the meantime we need to get behind the players and hope that for once this reoccurring interview that MM gives before every transfer window turns out to be true this time. Merry Christmas & COYB! Have just put a fiver on 3-1 win on Boxing Day. Think the wife must have put Sherry in my coffee this morning..

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chorltonskylineblue added 09:07 - Dec 23 I don't agree with the need for Championship experience. I know Grant Ward had it but Webster didnt. There''s been plenty of hungry lower league players that have come in and ripped it up in this league. We need to be looking at the teams who pay less than us.
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DurhamTownFan added 09:09 - Dec 23 'Evans out' chant on Boxing Day please..?! Or at least 'Evans, give mick some money!'
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BanksterDebtSlave added 09:27 - Dec 23 Put it all to bed for Boxing Day, get behind the team and make some bloody noise.....so that young Oliver (if well enough) has the best possible day as mascot! You never know he, and a bit of atmosphere, might inspire a performance.... Oliver's army, COYB !!
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richnblue added 09:40 - Dec 23 A. We will all be let down gently from here on.. Market conditions, wrong time of year were previous reasons for not adding personnel.. B. That we have no desire to get out of this league, lack of leadership here is now imbedded so deeply the club are happy to bimble along making a loss and providing appalling entertainment.
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juniorblue added 09:43 - Dec 23 I'm afraid the change we urgently need is a new Manager. This is a petty thing to say but I will anyway. I find it really irritating when MM keeps calling players Didzy and Murph. For goodness sake man call them by their full names.
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Bubsy added 09:46 - Dec 23 Im backing Mick! We get some consistency, that will build confidence and then we are "smoking". Look at bloody Huddersfield for Christ sake. Mick is experienced, hes in the job cos he is the best around and fits our clubs resources, structure and importantly limitations. It has been a painful campaign so far, but the Keane Jewell period were dark days and we are no where near that. Ipswich Til I Die!!!

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superblue70 added 10:17 - Dec 23 Look at huddersfield you say Busby, well maybe you should mate and you would see some very decent, entertaining football on a similar budget to us, would happily swap managers bet huddersfield wouldn't though.
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prebsa added 10:33 - Dec 23 Target could be a new manager, please leave! That would free up a good amount of wages!
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rfretwell added 10:37 - Dec 23 Well said Bubsy. Look, we are losing millions each year, Evans is footing the bill yet so many of you blithely forget about all that and call for MMs head when the going gets tough! We can all see the quality of player he would love to bring in permanently (eg Lawrenc, Williams quality) but we cant afford them. Get real, and get back to attending matches, boost the clubs income then we can start going places again.

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Tony88 added 10:58 - Dec 23 Why don't you big children wait and see what players we get before you throw your toys out of the pram. It is pathetic and boring. Play nice you kids and have a happy Christmas
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MattinLondon added 11:16 - Dec 23 I understand that we have limited funds and that freebies, non-league players and young L1/2 players will be our target market. I understand that. I will never accept the type of football on offer - if a Sunday league team can keep the ball on the deck then I don't understand why high standard professionals can't do the same. I don't understand why playing passing football is considered too sexy by MM and why it's relegation fodder. I don't like the sort of rhetoric served by MM. that the championship is a long ugly slog. We have the players we just don't have a manager who is committed to playing in an entertaining style. He seems to love the idea of having his back against the wall with proper blokes by his side. Outdated and I feel it's time for a change.

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bluearmy84 added 12:16 - Dec 23 heard rumour micks old m8 pulis is lending him saido berahino to get him fit on loan.
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tractorboybig added 12:40 - Dec 23 fresh faces to liven things up? Me thinks perhaps we should give consideration to starting at the top and working down.
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RoyalAscotBlue added 12:42 - Dec 23 All we need is a decent right back, and a manager that sets us up to play on the front foot.
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