Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy can see a time when Jonas Knudsen makes the transition to become a specialist central defender.

The Danish left-back has filled in the middle of the Blues’ backline on a number of occasions due to two periods of absence for Adam Webster, embracing the role and looking more than comfortable with the increased physicality.

He returned to full-back at Bolton on Saturday as new signing Cameron Carter-Vickers came straight into the side in a central role, but the Blues boss believes Knudsen’s long-term future may end up being in the middle.

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“I’ve got no problem at all, he ultimately might end up there, Jonas,” McCarthy said.

“He’s a very good left back and he’s got unbelievable energy for that role. He does, he just keeps going.

“I thought he and Santi (Bersant Celina) had a very good relationship as well, Santi pretty much never misses him and puts it in his stride and we get crosses from that side.

“That’s not knocking Myles (Kenlock) at all.

“I’m cool with Jonas playing there and there’s every chance because he likes the competition and he likes defending.

“I like defenders who want to defend – Chambo’s fantastic. You see them in training and when shots are raining in, they’re blocking them and it’s not going in their net which is a nice thing to have for a defender.”

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Knudsen also deputised for injured central defenders Christophe Berra and Steven Taylor last season and has previously insisted he is more than comfortable to switch positions.

“I feel comfortable there, it suits me,” Knudsen said last season.

“I want to win duels, press people and close them down.

“I like to have the ball and put some passes out to the strikers and do something with the ball too.

“You don’t get to run up and down the line and overlap like you do at left-back and I am a player that wants to run a lot and work hard for the team.”

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Webster is currently sidelined with an Achilles injury, suffered in the defeat by Derby, but McCarthy is hopeful the former Portsmouth defender will be fit to return sooner rather than later and than the ‘worst case scenario’ regarding his injury has been avoided.