NEITHER Mick McCarthy nor Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson were yesterday giving away very little over the immediate future of Richie Wellens.

The midfielder has impressed more and more since joining Ipswich on a month’s loan to improve his match fitness.

Wellens admitted he didn’t expect to stay beyond the initial spell but McCarthy said on Saturday – and repeated it yesterday – that he will try and convince both player and Pearson to extend the stay.

McCarthy said: “I haven’t spoken to Nigel, but there are a lot of things there.

“No doubt, he has been sent here to get fit. But they are in a great position so will he get back in the team?

“He might want to leave him here, he might want him back, Richie might want to stay here and play – I have no idea. But I liked his performance on Saturday (in the 1-0 win at Birmingham).”

Leicester had gone seven matches unbeaten but their young midfield have suffered two successive defeats and sources close to the club have suggested Pearson might want to utilise Wellens’ experience.

When quizzed about the player yesterday, the Foxes boss said: “In regards to anything like that we have to see where we are when that comes around.

“We have not got the biggest squad and the whole idea of Richie going out was for him to get some games. That was the most important thing in terms of the next step in his rehabilitation. “It is important that we recognise that it has been a successful loan period. I will look at that closer to the time. We will see how he is towards the end of next week.”

Wellens, who is expected to start again on the left-hand-side of McCarthy’s midfield when Town visit Crystal Palace tonight, will currently leave Ipswich after Saturday’s home match against Burnley.