Boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed he is looking to add to his defensive options during the January window, TWTD having revealed that the Blues are targeting former Newcastle United centre-half Steven Taylor earlier today.

Town are understood to be in talks with the 30-year-old free agent, who left MLS side the Portland Timbers after a short spell in December.

Having lost Adam Webster for the rest of the season after he ruptured ankle ligaments in training, an injury which requires surgery, and with Tommy Smith not ready to return after back surgery, McCarthy says is keen to add to his strength at the back.

“I would have let Paul Digby go out on loan to get some football but that won’t happen now,” McCarthy told Ipswich Player HD.

“We need Diggers here. We have had 16 players training this week and that includes the kids.

“We have brought Jordan Spence in. He trained with us before and he did really well but he wasn’t going to play then.

“Things have changed now with the injuries and he can play as a wing-back or as a right sided centre-half in a three. He’s got quality, he’s quick and he has certainly kept himself fit.

“We need bodies in and it’s possible that we might have to do something else at the back. We are certainly having a look.”

Meanwhile, Spence has been given shirt number 12 and fellow new addition Kieffer Moore number 28.

Both are set to travel to Huddersfield tomorrow, while we understand 17-year-old first-year scholar Tristan Nydam also made the trip to West Yorkshire. Nydam featured for the senior side in the friendly at Cambridge in pre-season.

Photo: Action Images

Blue_Fred added 18:16 - Jan 20 So Spence can play RB or right sided CB, and I guess RWB also, anyone know if Emmanuel can play RCB in a 3 as an option?
2

hampstead_blue added 18:21 - Jan 20 On the Lincoln game, Digby has certainly earned a place in the squad. Did little wring in that game.
4

oldelsworthyfan added 18:27 - Jan 20 Please, please MM, Leave Douglas on the bench to-morrow.....and for the rest of the season.
7

Cloddyseedbed added 18:32 - Jan 20 From Newcastle to Portland Timbers to no club. Again what an incredible player he must be now. Fits the mould perfectly though, cheap, not played for a while and certainly not match fit. I despair along with many others.
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Bluespeed added 18:42 - Jan 20 @ Hampstead blue , think you mean did Little on Tuesday as did the others except Lawrence & Gerks !
3

geminimustang added 18:44 - Jan 20 I always try to take a positive out of the negative.With so many injuries,the club has to find money to buy at least two players.New players bought,a couple of freebies,the youngsters and next season may be looking better.
5

Brownie added 19:03 - Jan 20 Didn't think Lawrence was great on Tuesday. To be fair though he had no protection from the ref & zero service. Got to say I thought Chambers was the best outfield player & agree Gerks was blameless. Mind you being the best outfield player on show is not a great plus! Got to move on now though. COYB!
2

Mark added 19:14 - Jan 20 I just hope the new player focus doesn't move defence at the expense of the quality midfielder and striker that we need. As for Stephen Taylor, he could be a good addition especially when we wait to see how Smith and Webster get over their injuries, and with Berra's long term future in question. I still think Christophe is a strong defender, but he clearly doesn't enjoy being in a back three when exposed to wingers. 7 working days of January left. Where are our big signings as promised after the Murphy money? I am sure the club would have loved to sign someone the last three days to make fans feel a bit better after the Lincoln humiliation.

7

chiddley added 19:16 - Jan 20 If you want bodies in then get down the morgue. personally I think we need 3 talented footballers who can control a football and a midfield. skuse and Douglas are next to useless in the middle.
7

jas0999 added 19:27 - Jan 20 It's all panic stuff. Okay, injuries racking up, but ultimately a club of our size shouldn't be down to sixteen players. The reason is one man - Marcus Evans and his failure to do deals. Unless pitifully cheap in terms of fee and wage. Hence why we are a mid table team.
7

leahcar88 added 19:36 - Jan 20 Steven Taylor has bags of experience Big character Get it done
10

sirmichealmills added 20:15 - Jan 20 I'm starting not to care......
1

RegencyBlue added 20:50 - Jan 20 Its just so uninspiring. Another transfer window which is leaving me cold frankly!
3

iaintaylorx added 21:02 - Jan 20 oldesworthyfan.. shouldn't even be that far!!
0

12th_Man added 21:18 - Jan 20 So exciting role on may
0

Vanisleblue2 added 21:23 - Jan 20 Portland Timbers is a very good standard with some very competative games. I live in Canada and Steven Taylor would be a very good signing. I would be happy
2

BlueandTruesince82 added 21:24 - Jan 20 16 players available! Cursed
0

madmouse1959 added 21:31 - Jan 20 Another sign McCarthy does not recognise we need players to support attacking football and players to score some goals. Expect more depressing football folks.
1

No32 added 21:33 - Jan 20 Make it happen... quality defender when fit - get him in
5

GiveusaWave added 21:47 - Jan 20 Good. We need numbers urgently. It's always this time up until late March that we tend to have more injuries not less. Sorry MM, but you should have been prepared for that fact. Spence should have been signed when he was first here and we should have kept Varney.
2

DurhamTownFan added 21:57 - Jan 20 I actually thought Digby did alright on Tuesday. Our problem wasn't the defending-we did ok there. The problem was the lack of composure on the ball. Every defensive player (back 5 plus skuse/Douglas) seemed to just absolutely smash it long every time. I get so bored of saying that if you do that, you invite more pressure when it comes straight back to you... That's why I'm fed up of MM. We've seen glimpses of better style, but his default setting goes against everything the best teams this club has had are built on

9

TractorRoyNo1 added 22:48 - Jan 20 Berra is useless playing wide left, we need to go back to a back four.
5

heathen66 added 23:50 - Jan 20 After watching that debacle on Tuesday what decent footballer would want to join a team where every defender and CM hoof it aimlessly. Perhaps only those who have not got clubs or play non league football !!! No striker will join as we have no central midfield apart from Bru who even thinks positively and the 2/3 CBs hoof it to no one even if they are not pressed . Everyone moaned at Best on Tuesday, but what service did he actually get...zero!!! Yes he could have perhaps tried a bit harder to make something happen himself but in all honesty there was not even scraps to feed off.

5

Blueray added 08:48 - Jan 21 Apologies to vanilseblue who I mistakenly marked down. Basically, this would be a really good signing...and I'd agree, the MLS is a pretty strong league these days. Get this done and bring a couple more in too
3

prebbs007 added 09:57 - Jan 21 The addition we need is a new MANAGER No one wants you here Dino
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