McCarthy admits he has asked about Brighton defender Goldson

Goldson came seriously close to completing a season-long loan switch to the Blues on summer transfer deadline day, having physically been at Portman Road that morning, before his Premier League employers pulled the plug.

A chain of events saw the deal fall through, with Brighton unable to sign Dutchman Stefan Denswil due to an injury at his parent club Brugge.

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McCarthy admitted he has spoken to Hughton regarding a potential move, which would only come about once the Seagulls feel they have adequate cover within their squad.

“I’ve actually spoken to Chris about that but that’s still something that, unless they’ve got a full squad that they feel happy with to let him out on loan, then it’s still the same position,” he said.

“We’ll wait and see.”

Goldson, 25, is highly rated at The Amex Stadium but needs game-time. He underwent heart surgery last March following a routine scan and, after a lengthy absence, has made just three senior appearances in the first half of the campaign – twice in the League Cup and a recent start in a 1-0 Premier League home win against Watford.

Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk are the established central defensive partnership, with experienced German Uwe Huenemeir acting as back-up for the south coast club.

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Hughton, who is good friends with McCarthy having been Republic of Ireland team-mates, told the Brighton Argus: “Probably the only one in our squad that we would still maybe look for something happening would be Connor Goldson.

“He played (against Watford), will play on Monday (in the FA Cup against Crystal Palace) but, when we look at Connor and the games he has played in this last year-and-a-half, if we had an opportunity to get him out on loan and get regular games in the second half of the season then we would.”

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