Ipswich Town will step up their attempts to land a highly-rated Premier League youngster or two on loan following Saturday’s match at Derby County.

The attacking limitations of a workmanlike and physical Ipswich Town side were there for all to see last season and have been even more apparent at the start of the new campaign.

Mick McCarthy’s side – without last season’s leading goal creator Aaron Cresswell and with star man David McGoldrick still working his way back to full match fitness – have created few chances from open play in a four-game winless run.

Saturday’s limp 1-0 home defeat to rivals Norwich City in the East Anglian derby saw the Suffolk side carve out just one chance of note against a Canaries side that, despite barely getting out of second gear, could have added two or three more goals to their tally.

With Anthony Wordsworth, Paul Taylor and Jack Marriott all out on loan, Cameron Stewart and Stephen Hunt sidelined and loanee Conor Sammon unable to play against his parent club, the Blues effectively have an 18-man first-team squad for Saturday’s tricky trip to Derby County – and that includes the transfer-listed Frank Nouble.

It’s understood that preliminary talks with former West Ham midfielder Jack Collison, a free agent who has been training with the club, started yesterday but will not continue until McCarthy has seen the 25-year-old play for the Under-21s next week.

Town director of football Dave Bowman leads the search for reinforcements and has been in constant contact with the leading top-flight clubs throughout the summer regarding their hottest young talents.

One player who now looks unlikely to be returning to Portman Road is last season’s loan star Jonny Williams, the Welsh international having stepped off the bench and impressed for Crystal Palace in their 3-1 defeat to West Ham at the weekend.

Others will become available though, with Premier League clubs now ready to send their young stars out to gain experience having previously kept hold of them for a little longer than normal due to their first-teamers being given extended breaks after the World Cup.

The transfer window for permanent deals closes next Monday but the ‘emergency’ loan window for 93-day deals opens again a week later while free agents can be signed at any time. Town have a blank weekend following their trip to Derby because of international action, they then host Millwall (Sat, Sept 13) and Brighton (Tues, Sept 15)

POTENTIAL LOAN SIGNINGS

ARSENAL

KRISTOFFER OLSSON

Swedish attacking midfielder made his Arsenal debut in 2013 as a late sub in the League Cup. Featured for the first team in pre-season.

JON TURAL

The elegant Spanish midfielder was signed from Barcelona. Scored five goals in seven appearances for the club’s Under-18s last season before injury struck. Played for the first team in pre-season.

GEDION ZELALEM

German Under-17 international made his Gunners first-team debut in the FA Cup last season and featured for the club in the early stages of pre-season.

CHELSEA

ISAIAH BROWN

‘Izzy’ joined Chelsea from West Brom in the summer of 2013, having become the second youngest player ever to play in the Premier League.

A versatile player with a lot of pace, he can operate anywhere across the front three positions as well as in the ‘No.10’ role. Scored plenty of goals as Chelsea won both the Under-21 league and FA Youth Cup last season. Then helped England’s Under-17s win the European Championships in the summer, before featuring for Chelsea’s first team during the early stages of pre-season.

ULISES DAVILA

Could he follow in the footsteps of Giovani Dos Santos and become Town’s latest Mexican loan star? The Under-20 international, recruited by Chelsea in 2011, is 5ft 7in tall and can play either as an attacking midfielder or a forward. Described as ‘accomplished with the ball, a fine finisher and with a strong team ethic’.

ALEX KIWOMYA

Nephew of former Ipswich and Arsenal striker Chris Kiwomya, Alex – a national junior athletics champion in the 100 metres – was recruited from Rotherham. A regular for the club at Under-21 level last season.

LEWIS BAKER

A two-footed creative and technical midfield player. Made his first-team debut in a 2-0 FA Cup victory at Derby County last season and was named the club’s Young Player of the Year.

EVERTON

CHRIS LONG

Roberto Martinez said the young striker was pushing for inclusion in the first team squad following a stunning goal against German side Paderborn in pre-season.

HALLAM HOPE

Scored five goals in seven appearances on loan at League Two club Bury last season. The former Manchester City youngster was part of the first-team squad in pre-season.

LIVERPOOL

JORDON IBE

The 18-year-old winger spent a brief spell on loan at Birmingham last season and has been linked with a number of Championship clubs, most recently Bolton and Derby. His reputation went up another notch after an impressive pre-season in which he set-up several goals in first-team friendlies.

MAN CITY

KELECHI IHEANACHO

The Nigerian doesn’t turn 18 until October, but caught the attention of several clubs after performing well for Manchester City’s first team during their pre-season tour of the US. Voted the Most Valuable Player of the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

MAN UNITED

NICK POWELL

Signed from Crewe in a deal worth potentially as much as £6m in 2012. The England Under-21 made 32 appearances on loan at Wigan last season. A versatile attacking midfielder/forward, Powell is quick, provides clever movement and can finish.

REECE JAMES

The left-sided player, 20, scored twice for United’s first team when they beat LA Galaxy 7-0 in a pre-season friendly. A virtual ever-present for the club’s Under-21s last season.