Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’s spoken to “lots of clubs about lots of players” and didn’t rule out signing Leicester winger Anthony Knockaert on loan when quizzed on his reported interest in the Frenchman.

“I’ve spoken to lots of clubs about lots of players, if someone throws that one out," he said after reports of a Town approach for the 23-year-old emerged this morning.

“He’s a quality player and if I could get somebody of that quality then why wouldn’t I? But I’ve spoken to loads of people. I don’t know how these stories get out, somebody tells [someone].”

McCarthy says he’d consider additions in all areas of his squad as long as they are an improvement those currently available to him.

“I go back to my original comment, whether we can get anybody, if they can make us better then I would try and do it,” he continued.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had injuries up front, we’ve had injuries to that department and now we’ve got three of them.

“I’m hoping Didzy’s not far away so if we get our four strikers back we’re in good shape. We’re OK, but if we can add a bit of quality, then we’ll do it.”

Quizzed on 23-year-old Knockaert’s quality, he added: “And all the others I’ve spoken to have as well!”

Photo: Action Images

karls_dad added 14:28 - Feb 23 This all smacks of shutting the gate after our shire horse has done a bunk! all too late, we should have strengthened in the January window, as we all knew!! Season over i,m afraid, could have been well clear up top, but it was never to be!!
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jimbobITFC added 14:31 - Feb 23 @Karls_dad - HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Have you looked at the table recently? We're still 4th! Season's definitely not over!
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MaySixth added 14:34 - Feb 23 @Karls_dad - ?? We didn't have to strengthen in Jan window as we can wait until now. We didn't desperately need anyone and now injuries have kicked in so we see what we can do.
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bluefeast added 14:38 - Feb 23 There are a lot of people that thought strengthening and freshening up in January. Not just fans , but ex players and coaches etc. The reason given was that no way could we perform at 100 mph over 46 games and there were big tell tale signes away at millwall that our first 14 players were jaded and somewhat burnt out. MM ignored that and now we face unsettling things with more square pegs in round holes. MM has many strengths ,but forward planning is not a strength of his it would seem. We have over achieved , but having spent so long in the top 6 it would be so tough not to finish in there. 8 clubs going for 6 places . COYB

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stevelincsexile added 14:40 - Feb 23 If we had strengthened in January with loans we may not have had them for the playoffs.
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blustutu added 14:42 - Feb 23 Or as Karl says, "Shut up Dad you're talking rubbish again".
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kuyski added 14:42 - Feb 23 We absolutely need some fresh leg at this moment，done it ASAP！
0

JohnWarksTash added 14:50 - Feb 23 Yup.....just one fresh leg should do it.......just done it ;)
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paulthebluealien added 15:00 - Feb 23 This guy is a classy player. Bring him in and place him straight in - would provide us with some real attacking flare. Similar, but not identical, to when we loaned in Giovanni dos Santos who was just incredible. As for our season being over? That comment does not even need answering.
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Michael11 added 15:00 - Feb 23 Wow!!! This is EXACTLY the kind of player we're crying out for. Creative, quick, got an eye for goal. Can play on the left or just off a striker. Really, really hope we pull this one off!
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bellazzurri79 added 15:00 - Feb 23 Get knockaert in asap!!!!! One of the main reasons Leicester went up last season
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Bobby_Petta added 15:01 - Feb 23 We have a decent winger in Camron Stewart but Mick prefers to play Tabb and Anderson, even when they have been dreadful. Tabb is playing out of position a decent defensive central midfielder but will never make a winger, we need some pace. Can't understand why he won't give Stewart a go, maybe not defensive enough:)
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Seasider added 15:12 - Feb 23 Any new players will have to go some to oust Tabby and Ando?!!!
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TR11BLU added 15:18 - Feb 23 If Tabb was moved into the middle we could accomodate Stewart. But wait.........what about Ando.... Stay as we are!!
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rickw added 15:25 - Feb 23 Knockaert is an attacking winger - would be good, I just don't really see it, Mick please prove me wrong!!
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nhabo added 15:33 - Feb 23 Wait a mo, the season was apparently over after we lost to Rotherham. Then we won a couple of games and it wasn't over. Now the season's over again! How about we wait until the season's actually over?
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karls_dad added 15:46 - Feb 23 For christs sake get real you people, we have punched well above our weight all season, now we have run out of steam, too smaller squad, look at the injury list! yes we are still fourth, but where should we have been if we strengthened when we should have, we just cannot rely on one man ie, Murphy to get us to the promised land. how long ago was it that we were streets ahead of that lot up the A140? We have thrown away points wholesale, where we should and could have seen us out of sight! so i,m talking rubbish am i? have a look at the results past where we threw points away! Playoffs maybe, but direct promotion you can forget that!

0

Hegansheroes added 15:49 - Feb 23 There's a bloke down the road from who just had a hip replacement, I suggest MM signs him cos I reckon he'd be better than Tabb or Anderson. Why the hell did MM sign Anderson, IMO a total waste of space.
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IpswichTilliDie1978 added 15:52 - Feb 23 What a signing that would be, be good if we can get him in time for Sunday's derby
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paulcooperisgod added 16:14 - Feb 23 Im Micks biggest fan and still believe he is the right man to take town to the promised land but sometimes i just think hes a stubborn old bastard, We have 2 of the best center backs in CHAMBERS and BERRA yet he plays the former as a right back and leaves a full back warming the bench! What does PARR have to do to get a game at Ipswich? is he trying to get him to leave the club as i certainly wouldn't blame him, Mick seems to have his favorites that he sticks to regardless of form etc TABB ANDERSON SMITH while there is a natural winger that sometimes cant even make the bench, im hoping for big changes tomorrow night as clubs have totally sussed us out now so i would go for SMITH BERRA CHAMBERS at the back PARR and MINGS wing backs, BRU SKUSE and BISHOP in midfield MURPHY and SEARS up front, with others on the bench for options. Square pegs for square holes sound familiar Mick?

4

Surco72 added 16:25 - Feb 23 We should definitely have strengthened in January anyone who doesn't see that are kidding themselves , look how many points we have dropped to lower position teams since and look at how many extra points Derby have got from there loan signings and the form Norwich are in since they strengthened . Simple fact is MM himself said that he couldn't find anyone better than what we have , well your not looking very hard MM as we have a two better more exciting wingers in our own club than Tabb and Anderson , 3 if you count Ambrose to Stewart and Henshall . Tabb and Ando becoming the new Nouble however they play they still get picked and what has Smith got to do to be dropped give the young man a break to get him some confidence back , we have kept one clean sheet in 10 games since turn of year but yet we never change the back four

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50yearsablue added 16:34 - Feb 23 Am I missing something paulcooperisgod? You want big changes but have made only 1, albeit with a change of formation. Please note also, Anderson hasn't been picked recently. My money's on Parr playing left back tomorrow
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paulcooperisgod added 16:42 - Feb 23 Isn't a change of formation a big change then?
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oldelsworthyfan added 16:50 - Feb 23 I agree with Surco72 because I still think our main problem is in the back 4. Chambers and Berra are the best Centre Backs and for me its then a toss-up which flanks you put Parr and Mings on. Smith gives me the jitters these days and I reckon that permeates through midfield. The centre backs HAVE to be rock solid. And that means Chambers and Berra. We need some clean sheets.

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Toronto_Tractor added 17:02 - Feb 23 Mm and our hard working boys had done amazingly to get to where they were on Boxing Day. I personally can't see how without strengthening, anyone can believe we would have maintained that position in the league. All small squads will tire, and injuries will have a huge knock on effect. The defence as a whole, I believe to be strong, a few recent mistakes aside. The keeper I think is better than we've had in no whhile. We have the top scorer in the league and plenty of back up. I admire the work ethic of players like Tabb and Hunt and even Anderson but they are nowhere near as good as some of the midfielders playing for our rivals. Murph can't do it on his own, and it's the MIDFIELD that needs to chip in. The number of goals from midfield we've scored in the last 2 years is embarrassing. I would love to see creative wingers like Stewart given more a chance and who knows? This winger might also be of use. I'm generally against the loan system. It paves over the cracks. But seeing as the January window has closed and cracks are appearing, we have no choice.

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