Frazer Richardson could do enough to earn a permanent deal at Ipswich Town without making a single start during his temporary spell in Suffolk.

So says manager Mick McCarthy, the loanee right-back ineligible to play at his parent club Middlesbrough tomorrow.

Richardson has made just one 12-minute substitute appearance in the five games he has been available for, with Luke Chambers ahead of him in the pecking order.

The 31-year-old is out-of-contract this summer and keen to earn a long-term deal at Portman Road.

“He’d like to play, of course, but then he can see what the scenario is,” said McCarthy.

“What’s nice about having a guy like him come in is that he understands the situation; we’re doing well and the back four is doing well. I was up front with him and said ‘if you get a game, you get a game’ and he said ‘gaffer, no problem’.

“I did speak to him and said ‘look, if you start to get…’ and he said ‘no’. I said ‘no, listen to me, if you’re getting frustrated…’ and he just went ‘no, I’m fine, I’m loving it, I’m enjoying being here’.

“He played in the Under-21s the other day and was excellent as they kept their first clean sheet of the season.

“He’s great, I’m pleased with him, but he can’t play this weekend because it’s his parent club.”

Asked if Richardson could earn a permanent deal without featuring much between now and the end of the season, McCarthy said: “Oh yeah, he’s done enough to impress me with his personality and his ability already.

“Of course I’d like to see him play in the first team but that will be determined by performances and results and other such things.”