Former Republic of Ireland international right-back Kevin Foley is on trial with Ipswich Town and will feature for the club’s Under-21 side this afternoon.

The 31-year-old, who played under Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy when the pair were at Wolves, is a free agent after leaving FC Copenhagen in the summer and is starting for the young Blues side in their game against Charlton Athletic today.

After leaving the Danish club, Foley, who has also played for Luton and Blackpool, trained with both Shrewsbury Town and Reading but didn’t earn a deal at either side.

“I’ve no doubt he could play both full-back positions,” said McCarthy, who needs extra defensive cover due to Jonathan Parr’s impending move to Norwegian club Stromsgodset.

“We have got Myles Kenlock and Josh Emmanuel, but the problem is with young lads that it’s okay coming in and having a game or two games, it’s when they have to play 10 games – can they get through it, have that experience and keep going? That is always the issue.

“We played Josh and he did well at Brentford, Myles has done well when he’s been playing. So, they’re the options, youngsters, then we’ve got a chance to have a look at Foles today.”

McCarthy continued: “He played against Wolves team for Luton at Wolves and at the time we had some good wide players, Matt Jarvis and Michael Kightly, and he saw them all off. I signed him on the back of that and he was different class for me. He’s a great bloke, he’d fit in fabulously with the lads, if he’s alright, if he’s fully fit, but he looks it.

“He’s trained with us and he looks the part at the moment, so hopefully he’ll get through the game today.

“He was out playing in Denmark, he hurt his shoulder and he had to have an operation in the summer. That doesn’t bother me too much. If it was his legs it might be bothering me, but it was his shoulder.

“He’s a gentleman, he’s a lovely fella, he’d fit in perfectly with the rest of the lads. I hope he proves that he’s worth it.”

Meanwhile, Brady Hickey, a 19-year-old midfielder from Evo-Stik League Northern Premier Division Barwell, is back for a second spell training with the Blues and will also feature for the Under-21s today.