PORTSMOUTH manager Harry Redknapp has admitted that David Nugent should complete his loan move to Ipswich by the end of this week.Goal-poacher Nugent could well be the final ingredient that Town need to make their final push for promotion, and the ex-Preston striker is set to sign as soon as he recovers from an abductor muscle injury.

Derek Davis

PORTSMOUTH manager Harry Redknapp has admitted that David Nugent should complete his loan move to Ipswich by the end of this week.

Goal-poacher Nugent could well be the final ingredient that Town need to make their final push for promotion, and the ex-Preston striker is set to sign as soon as he recovers from an abductor muscle injury. That appears imminent.

Redkapp revealed: “It should be tied up in the next few days. It's a good deal for us financially too, which is important.

“(Portsmouth chief executive) Peter Storrie has been dealing with their chairman (David Sheepshanks), and they have made a good offer. Lots of clubs have asked about taking David, but Ipswich are the only ones to come forward with a decent offer.

“David is interested in going, so we're just waiting for his injury to clear up, which should be in the next few days.”

Nugent has struggled to settle at Fratton Park, following his £6m move from Preston last summer, and the clubs have agreed a financial package for him to move to Portman Road until the end of the season.

However, the 22-year-old only returned to training this week after a groin operation.

Meanwhile, Burnley moved to within one point of seventh-placed Town following a 2-0 home win over Coventry City last night.

At the other end of the table, Colchester United are now five points adrift of safety. The U's face a tall order to escape relegation after Preston moved out of the bottom three with a surprise 2-0 victory over leaders Stoke City.

A first-half brace from Richard Chaplow saw Preston extend their advantage over the U's from two to five points, at the same time leapfrogging Sheffield Wednesday in the table.

Last night's other game in the Championship saw Barnsley and QPR share a goalless draw.