Peterborough United director of football Barry Fry has revealed that Ipswich Town made an enquiry regarding former loanee Tyrone Barnett prior to his switch to Bristol City yesterday.

McCarthy made the 28-year-old one of his first Town signings when he joined on loan in November 2012 but the former Crawley front man’s spell was cut short by a cruciate ligament injury a month later after only two starts and one sub appearance.

He scored seven goals in 14 games for Posh at the start of this season, but then failed to find the net in 12 outings and has not been selected for the last eight games.

“Mick McCarthy spoke to us about him, he spoke to Mick, but Mick only wanted to take him on loan,” Fry told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

“But Bristol City came in, they only wanted to take him on loan, but he’s been there for a week talking about things and he’s gone there on loan until June 30th with a view to a permanent deal on July 1st. I think it suits all parties.”

McCarthy has been playing a 4-3-3 formation regularly of late and is currently down to just three fit first team strikers – David McGoldrick, Paul Taylor and Frank Nouble – due to the injuries sustained by Daryl Murphy (thigh) and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (hamstring).

It is not yet known how long the aforementioned duo will be out of action for.