Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy says there is ‘no chance’ of striker Daryl Murphy returning to the club in January.

The Republic of Ireland international bagged 67 goals during three spells with the Blues, including 27 in the 2014/15 season, before moving to Newcastle United in a £3m move at the back end of August.

Town have found the net just 12 times in the 15 games they have played since the 33-year-old’s departure, drawing a blank on eight occasions to slip to 16th in the second-tier table.

Murphy, meanwhile, has featured just twice for his new employers – both in the League Cup – and isn’t even getting a place on the bench for Rafa Benitez’s Championship table-toppers.

Asked if Murphy might return to Portman Road on loan when the transfer window opens in the new year, McCarthy replied: “No. I say that speaking on behalf of Rafa (Benitez). If you’re going for promotion it doesn’t matter what you’re spending on the players. If you look like you are going to earn zillions (by being promoted) why would you even consider getting shot of a player that might score you a winner at some stage?

“There’s no chance, no. He won’t be going anywhere.”

He jokingly added: “Should I say there’s a place for him here just in case? Put my sandwich board on?!”

When it was pointed out that Newcastle may see a benefit in helping Ipswich take points off their promotion rivals, McCarthy said: “You could say that, but we’re starting to double guess a few people now aren’t we?

“It’s also a question of whether he’d come back. He’s had his time here, had his success here and got his big move.

“I’m always open to suggestions though if Rafa fancies it. He might want to lend me a few others if it helps us beat all the teams around him!

“We need to get goals – we’ve only scored 17 and that’s not good enough. We desperately need some.”

Does McCarthy now regret letting Murphy go?

“No, I don’t – it was the right deal for the club,” he said, speaking ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Cardiff City.

“It was almost impossible (to stop) with him being 33, the wages he was going to be paid, the contract he was going to get and the club he was going to. It would have been hard to motivate him here after all of that.

“Yes, we’re missing him, but I remember when nobody was bothered whether we signed him or not.

“It’s a good deal for the club and we should be able to reinvest that money at some stage to get another striker. We’ll see.”

So McCarthy has got the Murphy money to spend in January?

“Well I haven’t spent it have I?” he replied.

“I would like to replace him in January, of course I would. Whether that’s X million pounds is another matter. I’d like to replace the goals though, of course.”