That's why I said maybe a loan if Toby is out for a few weeks. No point bringing in some one that will just stop youth like McCarthy getting his chance even if it is sitting on the bench. McCarthy plays cb mostly for the youth having started of as a rb. He plays better at cb, so in the summer I would like us to get another rb (maybe two if Clyne goes).
We are still very much looking at Byram.
I'd take a loan too, but if the options are to buy or stand pat, I'd go for the former. McCarthy will get his chance regardless, but it doesn't appear as if we're expecting it to be this season; he hasn't gotten a look in the cups, and when a spot has opened up at RB we've gone with two central defenders and an attacking mid as cover.
Plus, the deeper we get into this, the more likely it is that we'll be playing European football of some variety next year; there'll be no shortage of minutes to go around if so.