Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy remained coy on his transfer plans after his side started pre-season with a comfortable 6-0 win at Irish second tier side Shelbourne.

The Blues have sold left-back Tyrone Mings to Bournemouth for £8m this summer, but brought in four new players in the form of striker Brett Pitman, wingers Ryan Fraser and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, as well as centre-back Josh Yorwerth.

In addition, youngsters such as Josh Emmanuel (right-back), Myles Kenlock (left-back), Kyle Hammond (right-back), Matt Clarke (centre-back), Dylan Connolly (right winger), Adam McDonnell (centre midfield) have all made an impression during this week’s training camp in Ireland.

Luke Hyam could be out for up to four months after undergoing knee surgery and the EADT and Ipswich Star understands that owner Marcus Evans has given the green light for McCarthy to finally spend some money.

Asked if he would sign a central midfielder, following Hyam’s set-back, he said: “I’ve got four good’uns by the looks of it, probably more than four. We’ll see.”

On reports that a bid had been made for Birmingham City striker Clayton Donaldson, he said: “You wouldn’t expect me to comment on that if I had or hadn’t (made a bid).

“If you consider that for a moment though, we’ve got Daryl Murphy, David McGoldrick, Freddie Sears and Brett Pitman – I just wonder where the hell I would play him?”

McCarthy issued a two-word response when asked what Cameron Stewart’s situation was after being left behind in England – ‘he’s available’ – but was full of praise for the impressive Alex Henshall, who scored a super goal and put in an eye-catching display.

“That’s what he’s got to do, because he went backwards at one stage,” said McCarthy. “Then he had a bit of a shock to the system (going on loan to Blackpool), but he’s come back, worked really hard and I’m delighted.

“He’s given himself a chance of getting in the team.”

Asked whether there had been any signs of a play-off hangover, he said: “You’re the first person that’s mentioned it. Seriously. It’s finished that and gone.

“We had a great season, the lads were terrific, and I thought we had a good play-offs too actually. We had one red card all season and it was for handball in the second leg of the play-offs. That was our one bit of bad luck and it was just one of those games.”

On the week spent in Ireland, he said: “It gives the players a chance to spend time together. They’re out on the pitches, they have a swim, they go to the cinema, they play golf, we’ll go and have a beer tonight – it’s great.

“Every time we sign somebody they say how welcome they are made to feel when they arrive at this football club.”

He added: “You know what I think about pre-season, but it’s still nice to win. They played last night, so we should win the game, but the goals that we scored and the football that we played was excellent.”

– See Monday’s papers for plenty more Ipswich Town news.