Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy insists that no player in his team is undroppable, but went on to suggest he will remain loyal to his below-par stalwarts for today’s home game against Huddersfield Town.

The Blues enjoyed a flying start to the season, but have since dropped to 12th place in the Championship following just one win in six league outings – the limp 2-0 loss at Blackburn prior to the international break their worst display of the lot.

The likes of Luke Chambers, Christophe Berra, Tommy Smith, Cole Skuse and Daryl Murphy have been virtual ever-presents during McCarthy’s reign, but some of those key men, of late, have fallen below the high standards they set last season.

“There are no untouchables at all, but I know who my best ones are,” said McCarthy. “They might not be having the best time in the world right now, but ultimately, over 46 games, they will be my best players.

“I know I can shake the team up with three games in a week coming up (Hull and Nottingham Forest away next Tuesday and Saturday respectively). Nobody’s position is rock-solid.

“There have been a lot of players who have been outstanding for me though and I learnt from managers in the past that if they thought I was the best player for my position they didn’t tinker with it too often because I would always come good again.”

He continued: “I was never dropped because of bad form, so I can’t tell you how that feels, but I remember being left out at Barnsley after serving a two-game suspension and I subsequently ended up leaving Barnsley, so you can tell how I felt about that one!

“I had been Player-of-the-Year for three years on the spin and played 272 games in six years, so I’d had a pretty good run.

“I learned during my time with Ireland under Big Jack (Charlton) and under Manchester City with Billy (McNeill) that, regardless of poor form, they knew who the best defenders were.

“Sometimes you can leave people out and then you’ve got to go back to Plan A when it reveals itself they were always your best players.

“I make my decisions based on everything I’ve learnt over my career, which has been a pretty long time.”

– Log on at 2pm for live updates from this afternoon’s game at Portman Road. See today’s EADT for full match preview.