Blues boss Mick McCarthy says new signing Mustapha Carayol has the ability to change and win games, as Town know well from his spell with Middlesbrough.

“Muzzy has just been a good Championship player, he’s got that ability to change games, to win games,” McCarthy said.

“He played against us for Middlesbrough [when they beat the Blues 2-0 at the Riverside in March 2014] and he ripped us apart completely.

“And I think he’s got that ability and we all know what wingers are like because they’re the first ones that get hauled off. But it’s generally because nobody’s giving them the ball, they can’t get it.

“I was asked a question about my cover in wide areas last week and I said I was continually looking.

“We’ve got Santie and Wardy, Freddie Sears plays there. If they play in a three it’s slightly different as opposed to a four but we’ve not got that much cover in wide areas and I think Muzzy’s a real good signing for us to put pressure on the others.”

He says Carayol, who signed a deal to the end of the season yesterday having left Nottingham Forest earlier in the day, is another recruit who has joined the club with something to prove.

“I love those, they’re great," he added. "He’s out of contract, he’s got to earn another contract, he’s 29.

“I guess he wants to play until he’s 35. Why shouldn’t he? He’s got six more years, where’s it going to be? Could it be here? Wherever it’s going to be, he’s got to earn that now.

“He’s been at Forest, he’s been able to play, he’s been a sub, he’s a been a bit-part player, he played Saturday. He needs to play, he needs to get a job, he needs to stay in football. It’s great that insecurity, it makes you work harder.”

McCarthy says Carayol and Stephen Gleeson, who also joined the club on a deal to the end of the season, both have a chance of winning themselves a longer spell at Portman Road.

“Why not, and they are proper, solid Championship players that are here at the moment and I’ve no doubt they’ll love it here," he said.

"There’s no doubt about that and they’ll enjoy being with the lads and they’ll enjoy the atmosphere in the place.

“And certainly if we can get the atmosphere going at Portman Road, they’ll enjoy that a lot more as well.”

Photo: TWTD

rfretwell added 18:33 - Feb 1 This puts Freddie further down the pecking order. In the summer we need to sign a big powerful c/f. Garner doesn't replace Murphy and doesn't win enough balls in the air against towering opposition defenders.
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dukey44 added 21:32 - Feb 1 So he is in the bench then?
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Pilgrimblue added 16:39 - Feb 2 He wasn't good enough at Forest so why should it be any different. Mick has signed them to see if they can earn deals for next season which would mean at the expense of our younger players! No doubt Carayol will be upping his game to make an impression but in light of his previous form I don't think he'll be here after May. What's happened to 5 point plan, didn't see anything in there about journeymen being signed at our own home based players expense. Whats the point of planning for the future if looking at the past!!

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