THE result of tomorrow’s League One play-off final could determine who becomes Paul Jewell’s fallback option at full-back.

The Blues boss is still hopeful that he can persuade Portsmouth’s Joel Ward to become the man to provide competition to Carlos Edwards – as well as valuable cover in a variety of other positions – next season.

However, if that drawn-out transfer saga does reach an anti-climactic conclusion – Crystal Palace said to be close to winning the chase – then Jewell could well switch his sights to the right-back of whichever team misses out on promotion to the Championship at Wembley tomorrow (3pm).

Town have scouted numerous Huddersfield matches this season and are believed to have been impressed with Jack Hunt.

The 21-year-old Terriers academy graduate scored in his side’s play-off semi-final win over MK Dons and – alongside former Blues striker and goal machine Jordan Rhodes – was named in the League One Team of the Year.

Alternatively, there is Sheffield United’s Matt Lowton. The 22-year-old was linked with a move to Portman Road last summer but ended up signing a contract extension at his boyhood club.

Having made 32 appearances in the season the Blades were relegated from English football’s second tier, Lowton has continued to be a key player as Danny Wilson’s side narrowly missed out on automatic promotion to rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

Both young, athletic and versatile – Hunt able to play on the right of midfield and Lowton capable at centre-back – the duo certainly tick all the boxes that Jewell has recently said he is looking for in a signing.

The Blues boss’ best piece of business last summer was the acquisition on young left-back Aaron Cresswell from League One Tranmere and he is keen to find more players capable of stepping up from the lower divisions.