HERMANN Hreidarsson could be back at Portman Road next month.

Elvin King

HERMANN Hreidarsson could be back at Portman Road next month.

The 34-year-old Icelandic international confirmed today that he expects to leave hard-up Portsmouth in the January transfer window.

And he would fit the bill for Ipswich Town manager Jim Magilton, who is believed to have an experienced defender top of his 2009 shopping list.

Magilton played with Hreidarsson in the Premier League for Ipswich and knows the character and commitment that the gritty performer would bring to his squad.

So with one 'returning' player - Darren Ambrose - leaving Portman Road this week, another ex-Ipswich favourite could be on his way back.

Speaking today Hreidarsson said: “I have been in contact with a few clubs and fully expect to be at another club come the end of next month.

“Nothing has changed in that I still want to leave Portsmouth.

“The club knows my position and I know they will not make it difficult for me to leave.

“Nothing is concrete yet, but hopefully things will get clearer very soon.”

Magilton has admitted that he is showing an interest in the Hreidarsson situation, and there would be no big transfer fee to put Town off.

Town paid £4million for Hreidarsson from Wimbledon in the summer of 2000, and were forced to sell him for £900,000 when the financial situation started to bite at Portman Road after relegation back to the Championship in March 2003.

The left-sided central defender or left back made over 100 league starts for Town and scored two goals.

Another player who can help the Blues - now with John Gorman pressing some important buttons as Magilton's assistant - improve on a mediocre 2008 is former Real Madrid and Spanish international Ivan Campo.

The versatile player who will be 35 in February is still a class act as he has proved in the last two Town matches playing at the back.

It would not be beyond the bounds of possibility that his knowledge of the game and tactics may have caused friction between himself and Magilton over the first half of the season - hence his non-appearance in a Town shirt from October 18 until December 26.

But the ex-Bolton favourite is now back in favour, and can still prove to be a wise signing by the Blues boss.