Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy has paid tribute to ‘loyal and honest’ winger Carlos Edwards after revealing that the club captain’s time at Portman Road is set to come to an end.

While the Blues are pushing for a top-six finish in the Championship, Edwards has joined relegation-battlers Millwall on loan until the end-of-the-season.

The bubbly Trinidadian has made 191 appearances for the Blues since arriving from Sunderland in 2009, but the 35-year-old – the last of Roy Keane’s signings still at the club – has dropped down the pecking order this season and is fast approaching the end of his contract.

“Nothing’s been decided totally, but there is every chance that could happen (Edwards leaving) because he’s out of contract,” admitted McCarthy.

“That always appears one-sided though doesn’t it? The club ‘allows’ somebody to come out of contract. Well actually, as I’ve explained to one or two of them, what happens if they get a better offer from another club? They’ll do one without even a hint of anything towards me, so don’t worry about that.

“It’s not always the big, bad club holding players to ransom. They’re also the ones who get opportunities to do something else.”

On allowing Edwards to join the Lions on loan – the winger making his debut in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Blackburn – McCarthy continued: “I could have kept him here as part of the squad and just as a safety belt, but I think we can cover that position and as a favour to him – because he has been such a good player for the club; loyal, honest and straight-forward – I want him to get some football. It gives him a chance to put himself in the shop window.

“At 35 he’s not going to be getting any better, not that he’s tailing off and getting any worse I might add because he’s a very fit lad. At some stage though you start having to look to the future.”

• Carlos Edwards’ twins Makayla and Makenzie were born during his time at ITFC.

The twins were born 10 weeks premature and weighed just 2lbs each, leaving Carlos and wife Denille fearing for their tiny bundles.