Ipswich boss Roy Keane has refused to assess what his side can achieve in the Championship this season until he starts to rebuild his squad.

Town have yet to make additions this summer and are two players light after loanees Daryl Murphy and Jack Colback returned to parent club Sunderland.

Keane told BBC Look East: "Jack Colback won our player of the year, he's gone.

"We've not added, we've lost two experienced players. I think if anything expectations will be lower."

Hopes were high at Portman Road 12 months ago as Keane tackled his first full season in charge.

I have to identify the players and persuade them to come to the club and then step back and let the club do the deal, and we've not managed to do that Ipswich manager Roy Keane

But the expectations proved misguided, as Ipswich's failure to find a win in their first 14 league matches consigned them to a 15th place finish at the end of the season.

"We set ourselves high standards at the club, we didn't reach them last year and we certainly need to do better," Keane added.

"We need a better start, from October onwards we were OK, our form was half decent."

The Town boss also said he was aware that the squad needed new faces to turn the club's fortunes around, and insisted he has spoken to players, but revealed that the board had failed to finalise any signings.

"I have to look at my role in it and I have to identify the players and persuade them to come to the club and then step back and let the club do the deal, and we've not managed to do that," he said.

"People will look at me when we don't get results, but the people I work with, we've got to try and get these players in.

606: DEBATE I think we still need a right back, another winger and a striker. I think the rest of the squad is fine and as long as we keep the faith, next year will be a season to enjoy Wickhamisoursaviour

"We have decent numbers in terms of the squad we have. I think every manager would like to see one or two new faces at this stage."

Keane added that 23-year-old midfielder Luciano Civelli has returned to first-team training after 15 months out with a knee ligament injury.

Meanwhile the club have added Mike Pejic to their academy coaching staff.

The 60-year-old former defender becomes head of youth coaching and coach education and Chris Kiwomya moves to coaching the reserves.

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