Now is not the time to worry about a lack of midfield goals and creativity.

So says Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy ahead of this afternoon’s match at Derby County.

The Blues’ organised, spirited and hard-working style of play saw them grind their way to a ninth-place finish in the Championship last season. The hope was that the addition of some flair, pace and goals to a workmanlike outfit would enable the club to progress again.

Instead, last season’s leading goal assister Aaron Cresswell and tricky loanee Jonny Williams have gone, while McCarthy has shipped out inventive duo Paul Taylor and Anthony Wordsworth on loan to Championship rivals Rotherham.

Premier League youngsters are getting snapped up on loan by Premier League clubs left, right and centre – Liverpool’s Jordon Ibe heading to Derby and Sheffield Wednesday snapping up Everton’s Hallam Hope – but McCarthy insists there is no need to panic.

Asked if his team rely too heavily on centre-backs and strikers to score, the midfield quartet of Paul Anderson, Cole Skuse, Luke Hyam and Jay Tabb netting seven goals between them last season, the Blues boss said: “We don’t actually go out and rely on them to score; we expect the midfield to get goals. They haven’t done it so we’ll keep practicing. We’re well aware there was a dearth of goals from them last season.”

And after a follow-up question on a seeming lack of creativity, Town having just one chance of note in their 1-0 home defeat to Norwich last weekend, McCarthy replied: “We’ve had four league games. I thought we played really well against Fulham, I thought we played really well against Reading and didn’t manage to score, I thought Birmingham was a scrap and Norwich are a good side. The difference between us was a sloppy goal conceded by us.

“Let’s get a bit further down the line before I start concerning myself about everything being wrong, like there’s no goals from midfield, or no creativity, or we’re relying on certain players.

“Let’s get a bit further into the league before I start panicking on that score.”

– See today’s EADT for full match preview. Follow @Stuart_Watson on Twitter for live match updates.