DANNY Collins has admitted he will be left with a sense of “unfinished business” when his three-month loan spell with the Blues ends next week.

The Welsh international will play his final game for Ipswich against Derby County tomorrow before returning to Stoke City and weighing up his options for the New Year.

This could include a return to Portman Road but the 31-year-old is keeping his options open with Premier League Wolves among those rumoured to be weighing up a bid.

While clearly enjoying playing regular football with the Blues, Collins was yesterday very non-committal about his future.

The centre-back said: “I think there is a sense of unfinished business, in a way. I have been a part of it for 15 or 16 games and it is a bit funny now that I have to go back.

“It would have been nice to see the season through but in football you can be like a piece of meat where you get passed around clubs. I will have to go back to Stoke, train there and see what happens.”

Collins, who has scored three times during a five-game purple patch, met with Paul Jewell this week when the Town boss stressed how much he would like to keep the defender.

He said: “I am certainly not ruling it out. At the same time, he (Jewell) understands my family are three hours away and I haven’t seen my baby much.

“And there could be interest from other clubs and I would have to listen to what they have to say and consider my options.”

During yesterday’s press conference, Jewell made it clear how much he would like to sign Collins, and fellow loanee, Keith Andrews on a permanent basis.

Town top scorer Andrews is due to return to Blackburn in January and will be the subject of strong interest following his excellent loan spell in Suffolk.

Jewell said: “I’m not resigned to losing Keith. We would like to keep him, but when you are taking a player on loan you are always going to be up against other clubs sniffing around him if he does well. I fully understand that.

“We want to keep both players definitely. I think both have enjoyed it here, but I understand there is interest from other clubs. We’ll be in there trying to sign them as well.

“If possible, we would like to do it permanent, but they’ve both got more than a year left on Premier League contracts. We will make our best offer and try and make it as attractive as we can.”

Faced with losing keeper David Stockdale, Collins and Andrews in a matter of weeks, Jewell admitted: “It is a blow to us but we have other targets in mind.

“We are always looking to improve the squad – it is a constant thing. I was at a game last Friday in Spain. We are always trying to move forward and think about the future.

“It is difficult when you lose seven games on the bounce, but you have to have the foresight to look at the bigger picture.”