MICK McCarthy will today step up his hunt to secure more new signings in time for the visit to runaway Championship leaders Cardiff City.

The Blues boss has moved impressively quickly in the January transfer window, signing four players in a week – Patrick Kisnorbo, David McGoldrick, Aaron McLean and Frank Nouble.

But with a surfeit of strikers now in the first-team squad, the latter trio of new faces making it a whopping 10 on the books, supporters are starting to wonder when other priorities will be addressed.

McCarthy’s links with his former club Wolves refuse to go away with rumours intensifying that defenders Ronald Zubar and Richard Stearman remain high on his list.

The situation has been complicated by Dean Saunders taking over the Molineux hot-seat on Monday, but sources close to the club have suggested the new manager is under pressure to offload some of his over-sized squad.

Saunders yesterday admitted that he may have to let one or two players leave this month without fully assessing them and Stearman remains a top target for his old boss.

A source close to the player admitted to the Star last night that the 6ft 3ins player was originally keen on a move away from Wolves after finding starts under previous boss Stale Solbakken hard to come by.

But while not ruling out a January move, Stearman may well now wait and see what assurances he gets from Saunders about his first-team future.

Zubar, who like Stearman can play in the centre and right-side of defence, also remains a potential target with Wolves insiders suggesting Saunders would be less inclined to stand in his way.

Topping most fans’ wish-list is someone to supply the services to the new-look frontline with McCarthy assessing his wide options to challenge Lee Martin and Carlos Edwards, both currently out of contract in the summer.

Watford’s Mark Yeates, formerly of Colchester United, has been linked with a switch to Ipswich, despite making 21 appearances for Gianfranco Zola’s play-off chasers.

Zola might be reluctant to sanction a move but sources at Vicarage Road have suggested the club’s Italian owners have a large part to play in transfer decisions.

McCarthy has kept his cards very close to his chest regarding this month’s activities, but we understand he is hopeful of adding one or two more additions before Saturday’s daunting trip.