Boss Mick McCarthy says new loan signing Callum Connolly has impressed everyone since joining up with the Blues on Monday. The 19-year-old signed on a season-long loan from Everton on deadline day.

“Before I met him I’d seen him play, he played for Wigan and I thought he was excellent at full-back and he also played in a three as a centre-back and he can do that,” McCarthy said.

“He scored a few goals at Wigan as well and we had to take care of him from corners because he’s a real threat in the air.

“And since he’s come in I like him even more, he’s a very capable footballer, competitive and he has a great attitude to it, so he’s endeared himself to me even more just by walking in the door and training with us.”

McCarthy says adding Connolly has given him greater flexibility at the back, even with the continued absence of his three out-and-out centre-halves, skipper Luke Chambers, Tommy Smith and Adam Webster.

“Dom [Iorfa] can play centre-half and Jordan Spence has done really well at centre-half. Jonas Knudsen did well there but I still think he’s the best left-back we’ve got.

“And, to be honest, Callum can play both right-back or right centre-back and I have to say he’s impressed everybody. We had a small game this morning and he was really good.”

Photo: ITFC