Mick McCarthy is unlikely to dip into the January sales after admitting any realistic target would struggle to get into his Ipswich Town team.

However, the Blues boss has confessed he will be keeping an eye on his defensive options, after recognising he is thin on the ground at the back.

McCarthy takes his sixth-placed Blues to fifth-top Burnley this afternoon – his side on the verge of breaking a club record if they win their sixth consecutive away game.

He has hinted at making one or two changes from the side that won at Brighton, but such is the settled nature of his squad, McCarthy will not be actively looking to add new faces during this month’s transfer window.

He said: “If we want to do something we can but I have not got a host of names lined up, why would I?

“If I’m looking at loans, frees or Bosmans, or what we have looked for traditionally, then where am I going to get better than what I have got? I don’t think I am.

“I am delighted with it (Town squad).”

He added: “I’d like Teddy Bishop back fit. David McGoldrick is going to be out for a while, but I have got four strikers, I have Tommy Oar and Ainsley (Maitland-Niles), that can come in as wide players, Tabby (Jay Tabb), Giles Coke and Bish (Bishop) can play in the centre of the pitch, Jonny Parr is back and I have got Piotr Malarczyk.”

The aforementioned Malarczyk has yet to make a league start, since joining from Korona Kielce in August, and is one of just six defenders at McCarthy’s disposal.

“I have only got six defenders in reality because I am not counting Josh Emmanuel, Josh Yorwerth and Myles Kenlock, they are just lads. I am talking about lads that have played,” explained McCarthy.

“Even Piotr has not played here despite his number of appearances in Poland, but that (bringing in defenders) can be done on an emergency loan.

“I’m not bringing players in because I won’t put them in the team, unless Pele or Johan Cruyff are available on loan, but they’re both a bit too old now!

Meanwhile, McCarthy believes Burnley will prove a tougher nut to crack than the side Ipswich defeated 2-0 at Portman Road, in August.

“We caught them on the bounce after dropping from the Premier League,” recalled McCarthy.

“We were bang at it and I don’t think they were.

“They are playing more like themselves now.”

Comprehensive match preview in today’s EADT

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