Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has offered striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake a mutually-beneficial short-term contract, the EADT understands.

The 27-year-old was released by Wolves this summer following the Midlands club’s relegation to League One and is now ready to play again following the broken fibula and sprained ankle he sustained playing against Birmingham back in April.

Having scored 15 goals in a struggling side last season, the former Manchester United trainee is keen on a return to the top-flight, with newly-promoted Crystal Palace believed to be monitoring his situation.

However, Premier League clubs cannot change their registered 25-man squads until January, meaning a short-term switch to a Championship club would enable him to regain match fitness and put himself back in the shop window.

It would also mean Ipswich wouldn’t be tied to a lengthy deal should there be any injury knock-backs.

The Blues have been guilty of not taking their chances during several dominant spells this season, with McCarthy criticising his team for not being ruthless enough following Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Wigan.

David McGoldrick brings intelligent movement and link-up play, Daryl Murphy is a powerful target man, Frank Nouble forces mistakes out of defenders with his raw energy, while the direct-running Paul Taylor is still being eased back into action following his own return from a long-term injury this summer.

An out-and-out goal poacher is still lacking though and McCarthy – able to sign free agents outside the transfer window – has turned to the man he paid £1.5m for when in charge at Molineux.

Ebanks-Blake may have scored just 10 times during his three years playing in the top-flight, but he netted 25 times when Wolves won the Championship title under McCarthy in 2008/09.

Neither Ebanks-Blake nor his agent were prepared to comment when contacted yesterday, but it’s understood that a deal which would bring him to Portman Road until the end of the year is being discussed.