FORMER Ipswich Town manager George Burley is predicting an upturn in fortunes at Portman Road in the months ahead.

Burley, whose Crystal Palace are battling to move up the table, sat out yesterday’s scheduled fixture against Norwich City at Selhurst Park because of snow and ice.

“It would only take three or four wins and everyone would be talking about Ipswich going for the play-offs again,” said Burley.

“The Championship is that tight this season.

“With all their financial resources it’s surprising to see Ipswich down there but it just goes to show that it’s not an easy league.

“But when you look at some of the players that they’ve got I don’t expect them to be down there long.

“When you are at a club for as long as I was at Ipswich then it’s only natural that you look out for their results.

“I’ve still got a lot of friends in that part of the world and I always like catching up with them.”

Reports suggesting that on-loan striker Pablo Counago could be on his way back to Portman Road appear to be off the mark with Burley having little experienced forward back-up following James Vaughan’s return to Everton and Town manager Roy Keane’s apparent reluctance to play the Spaniard.

And the manager confirmed: “Pablo is with us until the end of the season - full stop.

“There’s no possibility of Pablo going back to Ipswich.

“They might want him back, I don’t know, but he’s not going back.”

Counago, whose Ipswich contract expires in June, is currently on loan to the end of the season.

Ipswich are interested in extending right back Gianni Zuiverloon’s stay at Portman Road with the player due to return to his parent club West Brom on January 4.

But with a limit on the number of loan players he can use and manager Roy Keane looking to strengthen next month it will be a case of wait and see.

The Dutchman cost West Brom over �3million so is likely to be above Town’s financial reach for any permanent move.