The new Ipswich boss enquired about Bramble, Louis Laing and Matt Kilgallon last week but O’Neill indicated a willingness to keep them at the Stadium of Shite ahead of a busy Christmas period.
That is despite John O’Shea and Carlos Cuellar having been firmly established as his first-choice defensive pairing this season.
McCarthy ended up signing another former Newcastle defender on loan, Bradley Orr from Blackburn.
Bramble is in the final year of his deal at Sunderland.
The former Ipswich man has missed the past few weeks with a “niggly” hip injury but is in the squad for the weekend trip to Fulham and is now looking to make the most of an injury-free run.
Titus Bramble: “It’s never nice being injured and watching the lads from the sidelines. Now I’m back involved it’s quite pleasing.
“I had a small tear in my hip flexor. It wasn’t anything major, but it was niggly and enough to stop me playing games which was very frustrating.
“As a player you want a run of games in the team.
“I was in the side and doing all right but then to come out with an injury was not nice.”