DAVID Wright could be on his way back to Ipswich Town for the start of next season.

DAVID Wright could be on his way back to Ipswich Town for the start of next season.

Unwanted and unloved, by former boss Roy Keane, current manager Paul Jewell looks set to bring Wright back to Portman Road to solve his right-back problem position.

Despite Keane’s own struggle to find a regular right-back, the Irishman chose to largely ignore Wright, a specialist in this role, in favour of a motley crew of makeshift full-backs in the shape of Jaime Peters, Troy Brown and Tom Eastman, in addition to Reading loanee Liam Rosenior.

The 30-year-old was released by Keane last summer, and was snapped up by George Burley when the ex-Town boss was in charge of Championship rivals Crystal Palace.

Jewell has transformed natural winger Carlos Edwards into a right-back this season, and to good effect, but it is clear that he needs a specialist full-back for next season.

It would certainly be an obvious step, both for manager and player, not least because Jewell has already signed Wright in the past.

So impressed by Wright’s performances at his first club Crewe, where the Warrington-born defender rattled up 240 senior appearances, then-Wigan manager Jewell signed him for �500,000 in 2004.

Wright helped the unfashionable Latics to win promotion to the Premier League in 2004-05, the first time they had ever secured top flight football.

It was Jim Magilton who brought Wright to Portman Road, in a �200,000 deal at the start of 2007, and he went on to play 120 league games in a Town shirt.

However, that figure would have been a lot higher, but for a falling out with Keane during the opening weeks of last season.

Wright finally returned to the team, primarily as a left-back, and continued to be a model of consistency.

Furthermore, it was his headed goal that finally clinched Town’s first league win of the last campaign, at the 15th attempt, in the 1-0 home win over Derby on October 31.

Keane was not prepared to offer Wright a new contract last summer, and he eventually moved on a free transfer to Palace.

But he retains a home in Suffolk, so it wouldn’t be a wrench for him to return to Town, in favour of tricky trips to south London, especially as there is no guarantee the Eagles will still be a Championship club next season.