Town boss Mick McCarthy doesn’t expect to have any new faces in his squad ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup third round tie against Lincoln City at Portman Road, but says there has been loan interest in fringe defender or midfielder Paul Digby.

“I doubt very much we’ll have anybody in before Saturday,” said McCarthy, whose primary aim is to add to his strike force.

“We’re still looking for strikers and so far we’re not having any joy, we’re just getting the same custard pies in the face.”

He says he’s not had any other bosses calling him up about his senior players: “No, managers are not ringing me up. I get agents who ring me up and try and tell me that people are interested but I don’t take any notice of that because they’re just trying to drum up business.”

One player who there is interest in is 21-year-old Digby, who has recovered from the knee injury which had sidelined him in recent weeks.

“Diggers is fit, he’s training and there are a couple of clubs interested in taking him on loan and if the others are coming back fit I would consider that,” he said.

McCarthy paid tribute to Luke Varney, who joined Burton Albion on an 18-month deal yesterday with his Blues’ contract due to come to an end on January 12th.

“Luke’s been great,” McCarthy continued. “I think it’s been a pretty symbiotic deal, we’ve been good for each other because when he snapped his achilles against Norwich we looked after him and he was really grateful for that. I’m not sure too many clubs would have done that.

“And he’s repaid us, he’s repaid us with his personality around the place and his performances some important goals this season.”

Meanwhile, 20-year-old New Zealand international Monty Patterson has returned to the Blues at the end of his loan with Vanarama National League Braintree.

Photo: TWTD

Michael11 added 14:24 - Jan 5 Of course we're getting custard pie in the face because a tin of custard is probably more money than we're even offering.
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muccletonjoe added 14:29 - Jan 5 Not expecting very many after Lincoln either.r
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iaintaylorx added 14:39 - Jan 5 Was there really any point in getting Digby?
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d0nk added 14:45 - Jan 5 Departures lounge is full, no arrivals. Please get to the departure lounge mick
8

oldelsworthyfan added 14:45 - Jan 5 Hardly surprising. MM has no money to spend (I would love to be wrong!) To sell Murphy without a replacement lined up shows absolute incompetence from the management. Is he looking at young strikers from D1 or D2? Probably not. Just ex Wolves journeymen. Or similar. Probably hoping for a loanee - not required by a Premiership club.
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positivity added 14:47 - Jan 5 it was always a punt on digby, no fee, cheap wages, sometimes they pay off (mings, bru), most of the time they don't, you have to expect that. if 1 in 10 pay off, you're doing well...
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JoeSadler added 14:49 - Jan 5 All for the Digby loan move, if he's not playing for us, get him out gaining more experience. Mr Evans MUST take this window seriously and give Mick the funds, we cannot keep living in the past with the same squad/mentality that got us to the play-offs in 14/15. If this season has already, in December, been classed as a "rebuilding one" then this window needs to be taken seriously.

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itfchorry added 14:50 - Jan 5 Team Gerks Chambo Knudsy Bezza Diggers Dozzer Wardy Skusey Dougie Didzy Pitts Manager - Dino
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blueblood66 added 14:54 - Jan 5 still searching? We have had 5 months!!!!
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Seasider added 15:08 - Jan 5 Oh dear,I alluded to this earlier that it may be more difficult to bring in the players wanted than previously,as it sounds like the club have had some knockbacks already It could be the league position,the Manager,style of football;or Mr Evans having short arms and deep pockets. Lets hope they have a bit more luck in the next 26 days,especially bearing in mind that there is now no emergency loan window available. The only two successful signings made by McCarthy in the Jan window were David McGoldrick in Jan 2013,and Freddie Sears two years later.

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battyblue added 15:09 - Jan 5 Thought we were getting our business done early according to MM no one wants to come here while the ship is sinking and the manager is hanging on by his finger nails.....
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Benters added 15:10 - Jan 5 Joke of a club now im affraid !
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sirmichealmills added 15:14 - Jan 5 Agree blue blood, I've always had this mental image of Marcus Evans sitting behind a huge desk, asking if target X has got his cv with him, With questions like "have you got any experience in playing football".
3

Wickets added 15:16 - Jan 5 We do seem to be a poorly run club at the moment, spin doctors saying one story club accounts something different. Odd signings, our best player being a loan, this season and last!!
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itsonlyme added 15:20 - Jan 5 Same old story. We fans are being taken for a very long ride in a very long tunnel with no exit. Our club is being run by characters with a couldn't-care- less attitude.
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12th_Man added 15:48 - Jan 5 What an absolute joke this club is get out mick
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carsey added 15:55 - Jan 5 Why am I not surprised. Two strikers out nothing lined up to come in. If the deal wasn't done ready to announce on 1st January why has Varney been allowed to leave for a rival club. I wouldn't mind so much if our midfielders were free scoring and making up for a lack of goals from up front. Surely all players should now be shooting on sight from anywhere to the penalty area. Even if the ball gets deflected in I'll settle for that.

4

TrueBlue1998 added 16:09 - Jan 5 Seems that Evans is completely taking the micky out of Ipswich Town at the moment. We've had a decent spine to the team for a few years now and with just a couple of class acquisitions we'd be in contention. Yet I can't see him investing at all, he didn't when we were in the top two at januray so why would he now? Whatever you say about McCarthy surely his record without money has earned him a chance with some?

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prebsa added 16:14 - Jan 5 Everyone will say im being negative but Digby is a waste of wages.
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richnblue added 16:26 - Jan 5 I'm beginning to think that we are being given the line in advance of the "we tried but we just could not get it over the line in time' line... Nothing will be done this transfer, McCarthy will keep us bobbing along at 18th, and after the last game of the season the mutual consent line will come out... Just off to the bookies to check the odds..
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runningout added 16:26 - Jan 5 We are no where near the club once the choice of most footballers we were.. Sad but true.. We could do with professionals that would like us to get back there
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Warkys_Tash added 16:35 - Jan 5 If we couldn't get anyone in Aug when the club appeared good & the season was fresh, who on earth is going to come here now that's any good? To a side languishing above the relegation zone, angry fans, a defiant manager & clueless owner! This season is a dead rubber, so why would the club spend on an experienced striker when it is apparently a season of rebuilding with younger players - this fact only mentioned in the recent hurried together 5 point plan (after the owner had noted the fans unrest!), never, ever any mention of this season being one of rebuilding at the start in August. We need an experienced striker & creative midfielder in his prime 26-28 years old not 33-35 but we won't get them. No chance. Big mistakes have been made & now the owner & manager are back tracking & panicking.

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Warkys_Tash added 16:38 - Jan 5 Rich blue, spot on just like BFJ last season in charge, run out of money & ideas..
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braveblue added 16:39 - Jan 5 Custard pie in the face. That's what happens to clowns!!
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Essexnblue added 16:41 - Jan 5 I scratch my head at the usual comments on here. 40 transfers have happened in al 4 divisions and only 30 clubs have been active, yet we are behind the others????? Best to get in what you want rather than get a free donkey in. MM an Evans have promised to spend, after the programme notes its more than their lives are worth not to honour the statement. Keep the faith! COYB If you watch the U23 u will realise that Digby is our most consistent performer when fit.

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