BRADLEY Orr will be going all out over the busy Christmas period to convince Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy that he should be offered a prolonged stay at the ‘sleeping giants’.

The loanee right-back is due to return to parent club Blackburn Rovers on January 26.

And while he’s pretty certain that his employers won’t want him back, he is not taking it for granted that the Blues will want to keep him on – especially with highly-rated teenager Elliott Hewitt breathing down his neck.

“I haven’t got a clue what will happen, I really don’t,” said the 30-year-old, who will face Bristol City – the team that launched his career – at Portman Road tomorrow, before travelling to Charlton and Wolves in quick succession.

“I think I know what Blackburn will be thinking, they’ll be thinking ‘stay away’. I haven’t had any official contact from anyone there and I guess it’s a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’.

“I don’t know as far as Ipswich.

“All I can say is that I’m really enjoying myself here. Everyone has welcomed me with open arms, I’ve really enjoyed the games and the training has been spot on.

“All I can do is keep taking it game-by-game and do my best. If that’s good enough then great, if it’s not then it’s not. I’m just knuckling down and cracking on.”

Speaking of Hewitt – who has replaced him as a late substitute in the last two games – he added: “I think Elliott could be a top player, I really do. He’s very athletic, very composed and very level-headed for a young lad. He’s got a good attitude, is very willing to learn and those sort of assets can take you as far as you want to go.

“While I’m here, however long that may be, any advice I can give him I always will. If I can pass one little bit of advice on that can help him, then great. I think he’s a real prospect. Hopefully he can fulfil his potential.”

With fellow short-term additions Bilel Mohsni, Danny Higginbotham (both December 31), DJ Campbell (January 5), Nigel Reo-Coker (Jan 12) and Stephen Henderson (Jan 13) all set to depart the club in the New Year, Orr believes Ipswich will be an attractive proposition for any of McCarthy’s transfer targets.

He said: “Ipswich Town is a fantastic football club. It’s full of good people and is a sleeping giant really.

“The manager is top class and I don’t think many players would think twice about coming here.

“People say it’s a long way to come, but I don’t think that’s a factor. My family are still in Liverpool at the moment because it wouldn’t have made sense for me to pull my kids out of school for a three-month loan deal, but it makes no difference to me where I’m living. My family have followed me everywhere I’ve signed.

“It’s a job at the end of the day.

“People have to get on their travels to get work in every walk of life and it’s no different for footballers.”