THE arrangement suggests Kieron Dyer is doing nothing more than maintaining his fitness levels, following his release by Premier League strugglers, Queens Park Rangers, earlier this month.

But the return of the former Blues starlet to training, at Playford Road, last week, begs the question: Could the midfielder still do a job for Ipswich Town?

The 34-year-old made eight appearances in 18 months at Loftus Road before manager Harry Redknapp activated a clause to end his deal earlier this month. That came just three days after Dyer grabbed the equaliser in the R’s 1-1 draw at home to West Brom, in the FA Cup.

Despite an injury-plagued career, Dyer has revealed he has no intention of quitting the game and, with Town in need of a creative spark in midfield – especially after a below-par showing against Barnsley at the weekend – a short-term move, back to his boyhood club, could be the perfect fit.

A similar scenario occurred last season with another former Blues favourite, and Manchester City’s current third-choice stopper, Richard Wright. The popular goalkeeper returned to Ipswich just to keep sharp during the summer of 2011, but eventually penned a deal in the November of that year and played in the 3-2 home defeat to Reading.

Long-term, Dyer, who can play wide right or in an attacking midfield role, may not fit McCarthy’s criteria with the Town boss – provided Championship status is preserved this season – looking to rebuild his squad in the summer.

But signing players to fill wide positions will be on McCarthy’s agenda, with Lee Martin out-of-contract in the summer, Josh Carson having been made available for loan and Carlos Edwards in the veteran stage of his career.

Another Town player, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, has played numerous times on the right for Town, but the 22-year-old has only started one game under McCarthy.

Brentford’s highly-rated midfielder Harry Forrester and Leyton Orient’s Moses Odubajo, who can play as a right-back or further forward, are the latest names to be linked with a move to Suffolk.

In Odubajo’s case, the pacy 19-year-old has earned rave reviews at Brisbane Road and agreed in principle at the start of this year to sign for a further two years with the east Londoners.

However, with Ipswich and Millwall reportedly interested in the Greenwich-born player, the youngster, who is out-of-contract in the summer and would command a fee, may be tempted by a move to the Championship.