Could Republic of Ireland defender Sean St Ledger become the latest free agent to make his mark at Ipswich Town?
Released by Leicester City in the summer, 37-cap St Ledger, 29, is training with Town and played 90 minutes in the Blues’ under-21s Premier Cup defeat to Southampton, on Monday evening.
Having failed to win a deal at Huddersfield in the summer, St Ledger, who almost joined Town on a permanent deal in January 2012 – only for Leicester to pull the plug – could be a shrewd addition to a small squad in which suspensions and injuries are starting to bite.
Centre-back Christophe Berra will sit out Saturday’s clash at Charlton, having accrued five bookings, while left-back Tyrone Mings is a doubt with a dead leg, suffered in the draw at Bournemouth.
Should Mings miss out, Jonathan Parr – himself just recovered from an injury lay-off – would be favourite to fill in at left-back. But that would still leave a hole in the back four alongside Luke Chambers and Tommy Smith, at either right-back or centre-half, depending where Chambers plays.
That could leave the door open for manager Mick McCarthy to make a quick move for St Ledger – a veteran of over 300 Football League games – with a short-term deal until January the most likely.
Alternatively, midfielder Cole Skuse could fill in at right-back, with Elliott Hewitt on-loan at Colchester.
Academy centre-back Matthew Clarke would be another option.
McCarthy has form in recruiting free agents – only Mings, of the current Town squad, commanded a fee, while St Ledger’s appetite to return to football could sway his thinking.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, he said: “I remember seeing people last year who were like this and, realistically, I never thought that would be me.
“I’m just hoping that by staying positive, something can happen soon.
“I want to be a footballer again.”
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