MLS side Colorado Rapids are interested in signing Ipswich Town centre-back Tommy Smith.

The American side, whose season doesn’t start until February 20, are managed by Smith’s former New Zealand international boss Anthony Hudson, owned by Arsenal majority shareholder Stan Kroenke and have ex-Everton keeper Tim Howard in goal.

It’s understood that Smith, who went home from training ill yesterday, will not feature in this afternoon’s FA Cup third round tie with Seffield United at Portman Road.

Macclesfield-born Smith, 27, grew up in New Zealand before joining Town as a teenager. The homegrown player recently celebrated the 10 year anniversary of making his first team debut for the Blues but has been limited to just seven senior starts since the start of 2017 following back surgery and several injury set-backs.

• June 2017: Tommy Smith would relish the Town captaincy

Town have just two other senior centre-backs on their books in the form of skipper Luke Chambers and Adam Webster, the latter currently sidelined with an Achilles injury – the extent of which is not fully known.

Keeper Bartosz Bialkowski and striker David McGoldrick have already been linked with January departures, while Blues boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed striker Kieffer Moore will be sold this month.

• March 2017: ‘Injury lay-off has made me realise how lucky footballers are’ – Smith