Ipswich Town manager Paul Jewell – having already signed soon-to-be 34-year-old defender Ivar Ingimarsson – says he wants experience through the spine of his side. STUART WATSON takes a look at some of the veterans who may be on his radar.

LEE CARSLEY

The 37-year-old defensive midfielder has certainly been there, seen it and done it in football. His career so far has seen him win 39 caps for the Republic of Ireland and clock up nearly 500 appearances in English football. He’s a leader, makes up for his advancing years with a superb reading of the game and is the consumate professional away from the field.

A free agent, having been released but Coventry City this summer, the former Derby, Blackburn, Everton and Birmingham man could well have another Championship campaign in him having made 24 appearances in the season just gone.

KEVIN KILBANE

The 34-year-old – affectionately nicknamed ‘Zinedine Kilbane’ by fans over the years – played alongside Carsley when Everton finished fourth in the Premier League. Hugely versatile, he is equally comfortable at left-back or on the left-wing, while he has been converted into more of a central midfielder in recent years. His height also makes him a danger at set-pieces.

Capped over 100 times by the Republic of Ireland, with over 500 appearances in English football, Kilbane has managed to stay relatively injury free throughout his career. Played 24 times on loan for League One club Huddersfield last season, helping them reach the play-off final. Available on a free as Championship employers Hull are unlikely to renew his contract.

JULIO ARCA

The 30-year-old Argentinian – who has racked up transfer fees totalling over �5m in his career – is out-of-contract at Middlesbrough and available on a free. A former Under-21 international he became a fans’ favourite at Sunderland over six years before moving to their north east rivals Boro in 2006. Has clocked up nearly 300 appearances for the two clubs combined. Dribbling skills can be used on the left-wing, while sheer work rate also makes him a decent left-back or midfield enforcer. Made 35 appearances in the Championship last season.

MICHAEL BROWN

The well-travelled midfielder is a free agent having been released by Portsmouth this summer. Now aged 34, his former clubs also include Manchester City, Sheffield United, Tottenham, Fulham and Wigan.

The skillful left-footer’s never-say-die attitude has made him a fans’ favourite throughout his career, with him handed the arm band at more than one club. Made 24 appearances in the Championship last season.

RICARDO GARDNER

The 32-year-old Jamaican has been offered a new deal at Premier League club Bolton but is yet to sign. The deal on the table is likely to only be a year – due to his age and the fact he struggled with injuries last season – so a Championship club like Town could snatch him with a two-year offer. Signed for Bolton after a good showing at the 1998 World Cup and went on to become a club legend, making nover 400 appearances over the past 13 seasons. The left-winger missed most of last season with a cruciate knee injury, but declared himself fully fit following an end of season loan spell at Championship club Preston.

NYRON NOSWORTHY

Former Ipswich boss Roy Keane failed to bring the Sunderland defender to Portman Road during his time here. Will Paul Jewell do what he’s already done with Michael Chopra and succeed where his predecessor didn’t? The 30-year-old is out-of-contract at the Stadium of Light and is unlikely to get a new deal having been loaned out for all of last season to relegated Championship club Sheffield United. The 6ft London-born defender can operate at centre-back or right-back.

LEE BOWYER

The one-time England international is a free agent after being released by relegated Championship club Birmingham. Now aged 34, the controversial midfielder has extensive top-flight experience with Leeds, West Ham and Newcastle among his former clubs. Also knows what it takes to earn promotion from the Championship having done it with Birmingham in 2008/9. Made 35 appearances in all competitions last season, playing in the League Cup final victory over Arsenal.

KEVIN PHILLIPS

The former England international – who has scored prolifically throughout his career – is now a free agent having been released by relegated Premier League club Birmingham. And while he may now be 37 years old, he still showed he’s capable of finding the back of the net last season with a clutch of important goals from the bench. With Jewell already having signed Michael Chopra Chopra With Jewell already having signed Michael Chopra and wanting to hold on to Connor Wickham, could Phillips be the impact squad forward he requires?

ALAN SMITH

Another former England international who is available for free, the 30-year-old having been released by Newcastle this summer. The ex-Leeds and Manchester United man has struggled with injuries throughout his career but would still have massive pedigree for a Championship club. Built his reputation as a hard-working striker but converted to defensive midfielder in recent years. Ankle injury ruled him out for much of the second half of last season.

MARLON HAREWOOD

The powerful 31-year-old striker is a free agent having been released by Blackpool. Has scored in the top three divisions of English football, former clubs including Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Aston Villa, Wolves, Newcastle and Blackburn. Scored five goals in 16 games for Blackpool as they were relegated from the Premier League and ended out on loan at Championship side Barnsley. His loan spell at Ipswich in 1999 will always be remembered for his glaring miss against Oxford.