Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna remained tight-lipped when asked about the club's current trialist Massimo Luongo.

The Australian midfielder starred in League One for Sheffield Wednesday last season but hasn't made a single appearance for Championship club Middlesbrough this campaign and will soon be coming to the end of his short-term deal there.

McKenna confirmed reports that the 30-year-old has spent the last few days training with his squad, but didn't want to say much more than that.

“Massimo Luongo is a Middlesbrough player and is still contracted with them," said the Northern Irishman.

“Of course we have a good relationship with Middlesbrough (McKenna worked alongside Michael Carrick at Manchester United) and I know Massimo as well (having been his youth team coach at Tottenham), which has been useful. 

“But he’s a Middlesbrough player and his future is still in their hands. 

“It's for Middlesbrough to make that decision and announce that decision in due course."

Town are understood to have made an enquiry about Peterborough midfielder Jack Taylor, while national reports have linked the Blues to Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi this week.

“I think in general the policy on speculation always has to be to respect the other clubs," said McKenna. 

“I don’t think it’s fair and right for me to talk about players who are under contract at any other clubs."

Asked if he felt the club might be able to make additions early in the January transfer window, the Blues boss replied: “We’re really trying. That’s been the idea all along. We have six games in January so having the best squad available for those six games would be an advantage. 

“Of course we want to get our business done as early as possible. We’ve been preparing as well as we can, but a lot of things are out of your control in any transfer window.

"When there’s just been a World Cup and a winter break for teams in the two divisions above you that creates a lot more uncertainty in the market and in the decision-making of clubs."