Don’t expect a big spend in January.

That’s Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy’s message to supporters hopeful that owner Marcus Evans will put his hands in his pockets to strengthen the squad for a big promotion push when the transfer window opens in the New Year.

The Blues have made their best start to a Championship season in five years, four wins from the last five games moving them up to ninth in the table and five points adrift of the play-off places.

McCarthy’s small budget outfit have proved competitive on a week-in, week-out basis, but, with the first team squad containing just 19 outfield players at present, it may be that reinforcements will be required at some stage if the Blues are to maintain a serious challenge for a top six finish.

Does the Blues boss expect to make many signings after the busy Christmas period?

“No, not really,” replied McCarthy. “I don’t think there will be that much business done in general. There will be loan deals with youngsters going out from Premier League clubs, maybe a few clubs will swap players around that are coming towards the end of their contracts.

“Sometimes additions can breath a bit of life into things and give you something different, but we won’t be rushing out and bringing loads of players in.”

Would Evans make funds available if McCarthy felt one or two mid-season additions would make all the difference, as Marcus Stewart famously did when he arrived in February of the 1999/00 season to fire Town to the top-flight?

“I’ve never asked him the question,” said the Blues boss. “We’re just cracking on and trying to get the next result.”

Following back-to-back victories against Charlton (1-0 away) and Blackburn (3-1 at home), Ipswich host a Huddersfield side on the same 26 point tally as them at the 18-game point of the campaign.

This the best points haul Ipswich have had at this stage of the season since Jim Magilton’s side claimed 27 points from a possible 54 in the 2008/09 campaign. Indeed, Ipswich have only had four better starts to this in their previous 11 consecutive seasons in English football’s second tier.

– Mick McCarthy’s pre-match press conference is at 1.30pm today. Log on later for all the latest Blues news.