Boss Kieran McKenna’s transfer plans for the final fortnight of the window haven’t been altered by his side's impressive start and says that striker isn’t necessarily the position where he will be looking for a new recruit before the window closes on September 1st.

Town have taken 10 points from their first 12 and are top of League One by a point but McKenna says nothing he has seen in the opening games has caused him to have a rethink when it comes to adding to his squad.

“No, no changes on that,” he insisted. “We know what qualities we have in the building and we know what we want to add and that hasn’t changed over the course of a few games or a few results.”

Town are understood to have been chasing Leicester striker George Hirst for much of the summer but McKenna says it’s more about a player’s individual attributes when it comes to making a signing rather than their generally accepted role.

“Not necessarily position, no. We look at attributes and qualities we have in the squad and what we need to add and there are some qualities at the front half of the pitch that we want to be able to add and we are continuing to work very hard in doing so.”

It’s more about what a player can bring rather than their positional label? “I think that’s important in our play, we don’t necessarily define and pigeon-hole players to a certain position.

“Marcus Harness brings us certain qualities that we will try to utilise in the team in different positions and different roles across the season and that’s how we think about it with our recruitment.

"Whether that’s Marcus Harness or Greg Leigh or any of the other players that we’ve signed, we sign them for their qualities and what they can bring to us in this division and we’re continuing to look to do that right until the end of the window.”

McKenna cites his use of Janoi Donacien in a hybrid right-back/right centre-half position since he has come to the club.

“He’s a good example. He brings that athleticism, he brings height and presence, he’s decent aerially and he brings the ability to make forward runs,” he said.

“I’m not interested in defining his position as such, more what he brings and which of those attributes we’re going to need in any given game.”

And the role he plays has then been tailored around Donacien’s attributes? “Not necessarily just around Janoi but I believe in tailoring systems and how we play according to the qualities of the players.

“So he’s one important player for us and we try and play in a way that suits his game, but certainly not just Janoi, it’s also about the people around him that we have in the building and the people that we bring into the building.

“I think it is fair to say that that is a principle here that we try and adapt and utilise the quality of the players and don’t pigeon-hole them into roles that might not suit them so well.”

Photo: TWTD

Wooly74 added 16:42 - Aug 18 Striker pure and simple, we aren't going to get promoted with the likes of Jackson and Ladapo. I'm not needing spoon feeding, probably have more of a football education than most that comment on here and played the game a lot in the 48 plus years of my own education. Every side that gets promoted has regular goal scorers up top as well as consistent goals from midfield and center backs. Credit to McK for bringing Keogh in to teach Woolfy and Fridge how to score from set pieces, but still need that man up top who will regularly score goals as well as bringing others into the game.

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bigolconnor added 17:10 - Aug 18 I would imagine that there is a large list of potential signings. Hirst was probably a target as he has good pedigree, is young, has scored at this level and might have been available as a transfer due to his position in the pecking order at Leicester and his age. There can't be huge number of players like that around, probably only a handful. I'm confident that Ashton will get someone and they will be of Championship quality. As he said before it takes time for the Premier league teams to do their business and for that to filter down the leagues. We just have to watch this space.

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ArnieM added 17:16 - Aug 18 So, reading KMcK comments here is it possible we are after a goal scoring midfielder?
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bigolconnor added 17:17 - Aug 18 Having said that, I really like what I've seen from Ladapo in each of his performances and would really like him to stay fit because I think he will score goals. He was unlucky with his first touch on Tuesday and still could have scored. Good luck to him.
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terryf added 17:52 - Aug 18 I think Ladapo played really well on saturday but there is no denying that at Burton Albion he dragged one opportunity wide when in a good position and had a very heavy first touch for the second chance. Still think he'll come good and score goals though although if he gets injured we don't really have anyone else to fit that role at the moment.
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:02 - Aug 18 ok so perhaps not a striker , thats fine, a 20 goal fullback will do, bring it on. LOL
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SuffolkPunchFC added 19:57 - Aug 18 Amazing how many people on here are arrogant enough to think they are better managers than McKenna. Difficult to understand why they're not managing an FL club!
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Rimsy added 20:14 - Aug 18 blues1. I said hirst because he's a name been bandied about all summer. We never get a clue from the club these days about who they are interested in. Dos'nt mean us fans can't speculate and chat about it though.
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BurleysGloryDays added 20:41 - Aug 18 Have as many opinions as you want! But be prepared to be called out if they're not well thought through is all. If your opinions directly contradict the thinking of KM in the exact same article, you're possibly brave for going against the herd - but I'd say it's a brave fan to suggest KM doesn't know exactly what he needs/wants right now. Essentially the comments I'm calling out are suggesting KM doesn't know what he needs or wants, or is a liar or covering up truths from the fans who think they know better. I am personally happy to defend him on those fronts and call out fans I think are talking nonsense. And will continuously do so, too : ) (LB - I said I don't mean to be rude - I didn't say I'm not being rude. A further example of you not paying attention to detail).

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Len_Brennan added 22:38 - Aug 18 BGS - The sheer arrogance is breathtaking; somebody whose view you disagree with, has an opinion that is not well thought out! I set out my position clearly, with specific references to formations & possible scenarios that may play out, particularly if Ladapo suffers a longterm injury; you provide misplaced self congratulations & pettiness, with no attempt to address the points I made. You then try to align your own thoughts with the thinking of KMcK, as though you know his mind & set yourself out as his great defender, as though he is being horrifically maligned. You're hilarious, & disingenuous. KMcK is reacting to a question regarding our reported interest in signing a striker/center forward, and in particular George Hirst, of whom it has been reported that we have already submitted an offer that was rejected. If, as it would now appear, we have missed out on him, KMcK has to deal with that, & where it leaves us, in the interview. Nobody is saying he is a liar or doesn't know what he is doing; so please don't go around assigning such comments to others on here, in a further display of disingenuousness. That will be all.

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Carberry added 22:39 - Aug 18 BGD, so you are the arbiter of who's opinions are well thought through are you? Who are you to call out fans you think are talking nonsense? Let's just hear what you think and leave it at that.
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BurleysGloryDays added 00:03 - Aug 19 LB, CB - genius. I'm the arrogant guy telling you to listen to KM, rather than spout off about what you insist we need, which is contradicting KM. Again, if you could add a little more thought even to what you're saying to me, you'd do yourselves more justice. (And stop wasting my time).
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Dissboyitfc added 08:08 - Aug 19 “I think it is fair to say that that is a principle here that we try and adapt and utilise the quality of the players and don't pigeon-hole them into roles that might not suit them so well.” Here he explains why he let Piggot go, never looked comfortable as a lone striker!
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Carberry added 08:03 - Aug 20 Astonishing arrogance BGD.
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