United ready to wing it before transfer deadline

The United manager, whose side visit Portman Road today, admits he is sleeping a little easier after bringing in former Manchester United player Wootton, with the 21-year-old providing invaluable cover across the backline.

Having addressed that particular area, a winger – or two – is next on the agenda with width, or the lack of it, a pressing area of concern not just at the forefront of supporters’ minds, but also the manager’s.

On potential fresh transfer activity before the deadline, McDermott said: “I think we will see it in the next 10 days. You wouldn’t write off doing anything else, but obviously we have a lack of a winger or two. That would be something we’d look at.

“You try to wheel and deal and come up with the best squad you can. It is something I have done before and I will enjoy doing it again.

“I was a little bit nervous as far as our back four was concerned so to get the Wootton deal done was a relief.

“You have to remember that he can play right-back, centre midfield and centre-half. That’s a real plus. He can fill in in those areas.”

McDermott envisages a tough test in Suffolk today at a ground where boyhood Leeds fan Mick McCarthy’s side have won six of their last seven league matches and enjoyed a renaissance in 2013.

The ground has also been something of a bogey venue in recent years for Leeds, beaten on their last four visits there and without a win in their last six outings at Portman Road.

McDermott added: “You know you are going to be against a team who are up for the game. They play in Mick’s likeness – they are wholehearted, strong and they have got pace out wide, so we know what we are coming up against.

“Ipswich is a great ground to play at and I like going there and I like Mick as a guy.

“He’s a top manager and he was really unfortunate when he lost his job at Wolves. That has proven to be the case. He’s one of the best managers Wolves have had.”