Mick McCarthy added Irish internationals, Noel Hunt – who joins his brother Steve at Portman Road – and Sean St Ledger, to his squad on Thursday.

The Addicks were keen to sign either former target, Chris O’Grady, or Craig Mackail-Smith from Brighton.

There was never a realistic chance of either arriving at The Valley, O’Grady wanted to return north and opted to join Sheffield United for a month, while the Seagulls were unwilling to let Mackail-Smith go to another Championship side.

Stephen Henderson’s shoulder will again sideline him and he will miss the Ipswich game. Charlton swooped to bring in Oldham’s Philippine international, Neil Etheridge, to boost their keeping options.

Igor Vetokele is struggling to be fit and there are six games to negotiate before the January transfer window opens. The Addicks are very thin up front and Bob Peeters may again opt for a five man midfield, with the wingers tucking in to support the lone striker.

Nick Pope will be pleased with his performance against Millwall and new signing Etheridge will provide the back-up on the bench.

The back four of Chris Solly, Tal Ben Haim, Andre Bikey and Morgan Fox should remain intact but Peeters is likely to have to make an enforced change in midfield.

Yoni Buyens suffered a hamstring problem against Millwall and will probably miss this game. Johann Gudmundsson will patrol the right flank with Callum Harriott likely to be on the left.

Jordan Cousins, Francis Coquelin and Johnnie Jackson will probably be the central triumvirate. This will be Coquelin’s last game of his loan spell, which expires before next week’s trip to Nottingham Forest.

The recent injuries to Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta may mean Coquelin could now be in Arsene Wenger’s plans.

If Vetokele is not fit, or Peeters decides not to risk him, George Tucudean is the most likely front runner.

Charlton could look like this:

Pope; Solly, Ben Haim, Bikey, Fox; Gudmundsson, Cousins, Coquelin, Jackson, Harriott; Tucudean.

Subs: Etheridge, Gomez, Onyewu, Wilson, Bulot, Vetokele, Ahearne-Grant.

The referee will be Darren Bond from Lancashire.

The Addicks have drawn five of their last six games at The Valley, while the Tractor Boys have recorded five draws in nine games on their travels.

Given the current injury situation, Charlton would probably be happy enough to take a point from this game.