IPSWICH Town manager Paul Jewell says he would prefer to be short of cover at centre-back rather than make a panic addition.

With the ‘emergency’ loan window having opened on Monday and clubs still able to sign free agents, the Blues boss has spent the two-week international break trying desperately to add some competitive reinforcements to his wafer-thin squad.

However, with Southend United player Bilel Mohsni rejecting the club’s request for an extended trial, Town head into tomorrow’s game at Middlesbrough with Luke Chambers and Tommy Smith still their sole central defensive representatives.

And the latter only just arrived back in Suffolk yesterday afternoon following his latest round-the-world escapade

with the New Zealand national side.

“I know I keep asking people to be patient, but it’s important we try and get the right players in,” said the Blues boss. “A lot of things have to fall into place – they need to better or as good as what we’ve got, want to come here and be affordable. That’s not easy.”

Revealing that a defender was on the verge of joining the club on a permanent basis at the end of last month only for injury at his Premier League employers to scupper the deal, Jewell continued: “I want another centre-back, we need another centre-back, but I’m not under a lot of pressure to get one. I’m only under the pressure I put myself under.

“I could have brought in 20 centre-halves between the back end of last season and now, but I’m trying to make sure the one I get is the right one. I’ve had three calls this morning with people offering me centre-halves and I don’t think they are better than what we’ve got.

“It’s about being strong and not folding to calls from people who think they know better.”

Revealing that young right-back Jack Ainsley is currently his third choice centre-back, Jewell added: “I’m aware that supporters – players and staff even – want us to have another centre-half. I want to improve the team all over and certainly I know that position is a priority – we’ve only got two and if anything happened to them there would be trouble.

“People can jump up and down all they like though – I’m not going to go out and just sign any centre-half because it appeases people.”

Meanwhile, Jewell revealed that 6ft 5in centre-back Kevin Pezzoni has spent the last three days on trial from German club FC K�ln. A decision is yet to be made on the 23-year-old, who is available on a free transfer.