Reaction: McCarthy reveals his transfer frustrations following defeat at Colchester United

The Blues boss is keen to add two or three new signings to his squad before his side’s opening Championship match – at Brentford on August 8 – but it’s understood he has had a number of bids rejected in recent weeks.

Asked if it was likely that he would have added a new face before Saturday’s final warm-up match, at home against Dutch side Utrecht, he replied:

“Possibly. We’re still trying. Unfortunately it’s not happening at the minute. We’re going to keep spinning plates and something will drop at some stage I’m sure.”

Does that mean there is an element of frustration in his search for new recruits?

“Yeah. We just can’t get them done,” he said. “It’s not because we’re not trying to get players in. Everybody should understand that. We are trying to do deals and it’s just not happening at the moment.

“I understand that (fans want transfer news). We are trying to do things and trying to ensure it’s the right things. That’s not always easy though.”

We understand that Town are one of six clubs vying for the signature of free agent midfielder Rodolph Austin and also among several clubs interested in Hearts defender Jordan McGhee. The latter can play at right-back or centre-back and captains Scotland’s Under-21 side.

Asked if selling clubs were upping the price because Town have received £8m for Tyrone Mings this summer, McCarthy said: “I think that’s part of it because clubs think ‘they’ve just got eight million quid in’.

“We’ll still be adhering to Financial Fair Play and within the rules. If they are the right deals then Marcus (Evans) will do them, no question about that.”

McCarthy started two triallists tonight, midfielder Giles Coke getting another run out and French-born winger Larsen Toure – a 31-year-old former team-mate of Kevin Bru’s at Levski Sofia in Bulgaria.

“Cokey’s alright, I thought he did well,” said McCarthy. “I’m quite pleased with him. We’re a little bit bare in that department, so he’s fine.

“He’s going to stay and we’ll have another look at him on Saturday.”

On Toure, who was subbed in the 31st minute, he said: “I quite like him actually. He was knackered after 30 minutes because he’s not been playing and he trained hard yesterday. It was difficult for him, but I liked what I saw and we’re going to keep him and have a look.”

Cole Skuse (sore Achilles) and Bartosz Bialkowski (illness) both missed out on playing tonight. Goals from Kevin Bru and David McGoldrick (penalty) twice gave Town the lead, but Alex Gilbey netted two equalisers and Gavin Massey scored a last minute winner.

“I don’t like losing games but fair play to Colchester, they won it in the end and good luck to them,” said McCarthy.

“We didn’t, certainly second half, play well enough, which was strange given the players we had on the field.

“It always irks, I never like to lose, but I can’t say we deserved to win the game. We had a spell at 2-1, but we emptied the midfield for two of their goals. I don’t know why.

“What really annoyed me is that our fans were having a good night and then we annoyed them by getting beat by our nearest and dearest.

“It won’t have any bearing on Brentford away, but they want to see us win and they were enjoying it.

“You can see how quickly the relationship between club and fans comes and goes. It took a long time to get the crowds back in, but you can soon lose them if you play like we did in the last 15 minutes.”

See here for our action gallery from Colchester United 3 Ipswich Town 2