Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman believes Ipswich Town need to bolster their defence, as well as their attack, this month.

The Blues have signed combative midfielder Lewis Travis and tricky winger Jeremy Sarmiento on loan from Blackburn and Brighton respectively since the January transfer window opened.

Finding a replacement for injured striker George Hirst is now the top priority as the Blues look to maintain their bid for back-to-back promotions to the Premier League.

Speaking via Genting Casino, Goodman said: "It's a tough one, isn't it? Because for around the first 10-15 games, we were all waiting for the wins to slow down but they (Ipswich) kept on winning and winning. If they drew, they would then win and bounce back every time anyone asked a question of them. But they're now five without a win and have injuries to key players.

 “I think players that struggle the most when you move up a division are the defenders because the calibre of striker you are up against enhances by a couple of levels and it has shown with Ipswich. They only conceded 35 goals across the whole of last season but they have already conceded 33 and that's after back-to-back clean sheets.

“So I think that the defence has struggled a little bit, but it has been masked by the fact they have been a free-flowing and goalscoring team for a long period of time.

"They've now lost George Hirst, who is a key striker and brings more than just goals and assists. He occupies defenders, is big, strong and quick, closes down from the front and holds the ball up well. They are going to miss him.

“Their next two games are Sunderland at home and Leicester City away and if they lose those two games, they will not be in second place anymore. Southampton play Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea. With the way Southampton are playing, I would expect them to get six points from those games.

“So the pressure is now on, whereas previously they consistently had a cushion of around 7-10 points over the teams below them. It's now down to three so the pressure is on. 

"I think they could do with a morale-boosting win. They will also need to be active in the transfer window."

The EADT and Ipswich Star revealed that Fulham striker Jay Stansfield, currently on loan at Birmingham, was a Town target last month.

“I think they need a striker," said Goodman, who played for the likes of West Brom, Sunderland and Wolves during his career.

"Freddie Ladapo and Kayden Jackson are excellent squad players at Championship level and are prolific in League One but their careers and respective track records show that they struggle to make the step up to the Championship if they have to start week-in-week-out. Jay Stansfield would be a very good addition. 

“Based on what I've said (about defensive struggles), I think they need to bolster the defence, perhaps with someone who is a leader and can help them get organised at the back because the likes of Leif Davies, Harry Clarke, Brandon Williams and Wes Burns love to bomb forwards and it does leave defenders exposed.”