Murphy and Carter-Vickers on Town’s January List Monday, 17th Dec 2018 13:20 TWTD understands former Blues Daryl Murphy and Cameron Carter-Vickers are on Paul Lambert’s lengthy list of potential January loan signings. Lambert recently revealed he had handed owner Marcus Evans a list of possible new recruits as he looks to augment his squad during January, deals he ideally wants completed early in the transfer window. Centre-half Carter-Vickers, 20, who is currently on loan at Swansea from Tottenham, spent an impressive spell with the Blues during the second half of last season making 17 starts. Town were interested in bringing him back for a further spell in August but the 6ft 1in tall defender ultimately joined the Swans on a season-long loan. However, Southend-born Carter-Vickers has found his opportunities limited at the Liberty Stadium having made only four starts and four sub appearances. As was the case with his spell at Sheffield United in the first half of last season, Spurs may feel his development is better suited to a move elsewhere in January.  Striker Murphy, 35, has had four previous stints with the Blues, three loans and a permanent spell. Having had a trial at Town in 2005 when a Waterford United player prior to signing for Mick McCarthy’s Sunderland, the Irish international was subsequently brought to Portman Road for the first of his loans by Roy Keane in 2010. Further loan spells under Paul Jewell followed before McCarthy signed him on a permanent basis from Celtic in June 2013. In total, Murphy scored 67 goals in 207 starts and 18 substitute appearances for the Blues, including 27 in the 2014/15 play-off campaign. He left Town for Newcastle for £3 million in August 2016 and helped the Magpies to the Championship title in his only season at St James’ Park. Murphy moved on to Nottingham Forest the following summer and scored nine goals in his first campaign at the City Ground. This season he has netted four times, all before the end of September, with his first-team opportunities having been limited more recently, partly due to the form of other players but also as he picked up a virus. However, Murphy made his first appearance in two months as a 77th-minute sub during Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Preston and manager Aitor Karanka appears to see him in his plans, which may mean the Blues have to look elsewhere for their new number nine. “He has had to be patient when it comes to not playing, so he deserved a goal for that patience,” Karanka told the Nottingham Post following the game against the Lilywhites. “It was not to be against Preston, but I am sure that the goal will come for him again in the future. He will score more goals.” Lambert has said he is not going to make wholesale changes to his squad with a handful of additions - largely loans - likely to be brought in. A number of experienced Championship players have been identified for each of the roles the Blues boss is looking to fill during the window. Owner Marcus Evans was at Portman Road for Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Wigan where he met with new general manager of football operations Lee O’Neill and director of football Dave Bowman to discuss progress. O’Neill, speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk’s Life’s a Pitch on Saturday (1hr 41mins 32secs), said: “The manager’s made it clear that we would like to get some players in and we’re working on that process at the moment. “At this moment in time unfortunately [there’s not anything I can tell you] as I don’t want to get anything out. “All I can tell you is that we are working incredibly hard, a number of targets have been targeted and we’re working through those processes. “It’s not easy as everyone knows but we’re hoping to get things done very quickly.” Regarding Evans, he added: “He’s very passionate about the club and wants it to be in a better position than we are at the moment. “Listening to Paul and what his plans are going forward with the whole club, he knows that we need to look at that experienced development part of the plan going forward for the next few weeks. “No one wants a club to be relegated and go into League One. We are looking at those development plans and things are hopefully moving in the right direction for the development and reinforcement to come in in January.” O’Neill says that the financial implications of a possible drop into League One aren’t being ignored but that working on retaining the club’s Championship status is the priority. "“It’s not one of those things you can take your eye off,” he admitted. “We’re obviously having to look at a number of things because of the situation we’re in. “But it’s not necessarily our primary focus because our primary focus is staying in this league, that’s where we want to be and we’ve got to work incredibly hard on and off the pitch to make sure we can make that happen.”
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