Hall for Town?

By Derek Davis

IPSWICH Town are among a number of clubs linked with taking Wigan defender Fitz Hall on loan.

Town boss Jim Magilton has also been alerted to the availability of Spurs winger Paul Ifill, who has been told he can go out by Martin Jol after a move away for Paul Salteri failed to materialise.

Premiership centre-half Hall, nicknamed 'One-Size' has slipped down the pecking order at the JJB Stadium with Titus Bramble and Paul Scharner nudging him further down.

Coventry City and Crystal Palace, along with Town, are among the clubs said to be looking to bring in the former Oldham defender.

Magilton has said he is looking for cover at the back and will move for a Premiership defender when the loan window reopens next week.

Although he concedes there is still a long way to go, Blues coach Bryan Klug believes the players are becoming as one.

Klug admitted Town were well below their best in the 2-0 defeat at Watford but has seen enough from the squad on the training ground to be optimistic.

He said: “I can see the players coming together better as a unit and that will help our performances in certain areas.

“We know we need to improve our away form and a solid unit will certainly help that.

“We were well below our best at Watford and there has to be a big improvement on that performance over the rest of the season.

“But the players are working hard, the cohesion is coming and progress is being made.

“There will be highs and lows along the way but from what I have seen day-in and day-out working with players here, we are moving forward.”

Town are without Irish duo Owen Garvan and Billy Clarke this week at training as they are with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s who will be playing Portugal at Turners Cross in Cork, this week.

Young England defender Tommy Smith is back home after Germany knocked the Lions out of the FIFA Under-17s World Cup at the quarter-final stage.

derek.davis@archant.co.uk