Town boss Mick McCarthy says the newly re-signed Luke Varney’s versatility will be invaluable in the coming months.

The 33-year-old, who travelled to Brentford on Saturday but wasn’t included in the 18 having signed a contract until January, is now in his third spell at the club, having initially joined on loan from Blackburn at the end of 2014/15, before signing a short-term deal last season after recovering from the serious achilles injury he sustained in the play-off semi-final against Norwich.

“His versatility will be invaluable,” said McCarthy, who confirmed that Varney is in his squad for this evening’s visit to Wolves.

“He can play centre forward and he can play in a three and he can play in a four out wide, he’s done it before. He played wide right against Watford when we had our 1-0 win in the season we finished sixth, and he’s happy to do it.”

He added: “I admire and respect the way he goes about his business. He’s made the best of himself, Luke, and had a good career.

“And he still does it now. He’s 33, but I wasn’t worried about that because he’s as fit as a flea.

“He had his injuries while he was here, he snapped his achilles and rightly we helped to get him fit and he jumped at the chance to come back. It was lovely and I’m glad to have him in the squad.”

McCarthy, who says Varney was speaking to other clubs before his return to Portman Road, was someone he was reluctant to release at the end of last season but circumstances changed with Brett Pitman out with a thigh problem until at least Sunday and David McGoldrick sidelined with an ankle injury for around 10 weeks.

“I didn’t really want to let him go,” McCarthy admitted. “I’d have been happy to keep him but that meant we’d have five strikers and that’s never going to fit, that’s never going to work, unless we’re playing 4-3-3 and I’m playing three of them up front.

“He wanted to play, I wasn’t going to guarantee him a place, I’m not guaranteeing him a place now, but it’s nice that he enjoyed it that much that he wanted to come back.”

Photo: Action Images

leftback added 06:14 - Aug 16 So invaluable in fact, he wasn't worth signing this time last week!
14

Dissboyitfc added 06:45 - Aug 16 Has he got more versatile since he was deemed not good enough? PRICELESS!!!!
9

TractorCam added 07:15 - Aug 16 So why release him then? I like Varney but face it Mick he isn't anywhere good enough for a team inspiring for top 6....
7

Steelmonkey added 07:22 - Aug 16 So you didn't realise how good he was until you looked at what you had, could it be you push the players too hard in training resulting in players picking up knocks. The situation we find ourselves in is just not good enough, Do you have a long term plan anymore? Too many favourites and not enough quality competition to challenge them.
7

GiveusaWave added 07:40 - Aug 16 Should never have been released in the first place, Foley and Varney should have been retained.
-2

hadleighboyblue added 08:17 - Aug 16 So why has Varney suddenly become so valuable ,after you released him ! Could it be that he was a cheap option as no one else had thought it worth signing him and our scouting system had failed to find anyone better , come on MM you are conning the fans on this one .
9

Taricco_Fan added 08:53 - Aug 16 He's equally useless in a number of positions. So versatile no other club wanted him.
5

Hoofball added 09:42 - Aug 16 Taricco Fan Sorry for the mark down.
0

tractorboyjim added 09:43 - Aug 16 If we were to finish mid table this year but use the season to establish the spine of our team for the coming years, I'm thinking Bart Webster Smith Bishop Ward Kenlock Emanual then I'd have taken that. But signing someone you released, presumably because you couldn't sign anyone over the close season who was any better is poor. Given the state of our squad, if we're not going to bring in another long term prospect id rather we gave an opportunity to someone from the academy, like Morris

10

runningout added 11:06 - Aug 16 never heard so much drivel from our club....
3

surgery added 11:49 - Aug 16 If he's so versatile play him at RB
5

bluercd added 11:59 - Aug 16 Gobsmacked... Wasn't good enough a month ago; but is now! Really am concerned for the season (let alone the scum game) I'm normally positive, but am struggling at the moment.
4

runningout added 13:31 - Aug 16 this 'speaking to other clubs' etc etc etc.. wearing a bit thin, and utter b*ll*cks
4

sgtlargent added 16:46 - Aug 16 Pitiful comes to mind. But hey he runs around a bit so definitely worth a contract. Embarrassing.
2

jas0999 added 17:23 - Aug 16 Basically he was cheap. Right up Evans street. Below average player who gives his all. Lacks quality. Right up McCarthy's street.
2

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