MAURICIO Taricco would welcome a move back to Ipswich Town to help their promotion push, writes Derek Davis.The former Blues defender is in the final year of his contract at Tottenham Hotspur but has found himself out of the first-team reckoning this season.

MAURICIO Taricco would welcome a move back to Ipswich Town to help their promotion push, writes Derek Davis.

The former Blues defender is in the final year of his contract at Tottenham Hotspur but has found himself out of the first-team reckoning this season.

Town boss Joe Royle was at Stevenage last night to see the popular Argentinian help the Spurs reserves beat a young Blues side 2-0 and has made no secret he is looking only to bring in players who would fit straight into the tight unit which are joint top of the Championship.

The no-nonsense defender would fit that bill and would also be given a heroes welcome by the supporters, a feeling that is mutual.

Taricco last night told the EADT: "There are only a few clubs in England I would go to – and Ipswich is a club that I would go to – no question. I had some great times there and I was treated right when I was there.

"If I don't get a move to one of those few clubs then I will probably hang up my boots at the end of the season or go abroad.

"But I'm under contract here at Spurs and until that changes I will be totally professional and do my job here."

The full-back has had offers to go elsewhere in England but has so far resisted.

"I have had offers to go on loan but at the time it was not right for me but maybe now it may be different.

"It is a decision I will take if it becomes concrete between the clubs. At the moment I'm under contract with Spurs.

"I have a great affection for Ipswich. They are doing great at the moment, top of the league and playing good football.

"They still pass the ball around and play the right way, which is what I like."

Taricco accepts his days at Tottenham are numbered, even with a new coach in place.

He said: "It happens in football and all I can do is stay as fit as I can and do my best when I'm asked to play."

Taricco started as a right-back against Town reserves last night and then switched to left-back late in the second half.

The Blues were two goals down within 24 minutes and both were real sickeners.

The first, after just four minutes, came when a corner was cleared only as far as Portuguese international Edson Silva Sousa, who picked his spot to leave Shane Supple flat-footed as it went into his top right-hand corner.

The young Blues were working hard and playing well enough before they got caught again.

Scott Mitchell spun to clear Andy Barcham's low cross into the six-yard box but the ball crashed in off the lurking Jamie Slabber.

Chris Hogg went close for Town with a right-footed 30-yard free-kick that curled over the wall but just wide of a post.

Pablo Counago also looked dangerous, but sent one shot high and another adventurous effort from 40 yards was easily picked out by Braintree-born keeper Nicky Eyre.

The Spaniard forced Eyre into a good save with a powerful 14-yard shot after a neat through ball from Hogg.

He also scorned a half-chance when he shot wide from a Darryl Knights' pass, with two team-mates waiting for a pull-back.

Aidan Collins headed over under pressure from a corner and Knights was close to getting on the end of a good low cross from Liam Craig.

Teams

Spurs: Eyre, Taricco, McKie, Hughes, O'Donoghue (McKenna, 68) Defendi (O'Hara, 90) Barcham, Jackson, Slabber, Silva Sousa (Price, 79) Yeates. Subs not used: Forecast, Malcolm.

Ipswich: Supple, Atay, Craig, Mitchell, Collins, Hogg, Murray (Clarke, 71) Manning, Counago, Knights, Richards. Subs not used: Flack, Patten, Synott, Garvan.

Referee: D McDermid

n Town defender Fabian Wilnis will require an MRI scan on his wrist injury while midfielder Tommy Miller has not suffered a broken bone in the elbow as at first thought, the injury being suspected ligament damage.