Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has said that Leon Best won’t play for him again.

The journeyman striker, 30, joined the club as a free agent, on a one-year deal, following the £3m sale of Daryl Murphy to Newcastle last August.

He provided some encouraging early performances, but slipped down the pecking order after an injury set-back and produced a disappointing display in the recent 1-0 defeat at non-league side Lincoln in the FA Cup.

“I’ve told him he won’t play again for me,” said McCarthy, when asked about the former Southampton, Coventry, Newcastle, Blackburn and Rotherham player, who was not part of the squad which travelled to Huddersfield last weekend.

“He came in, trained well for two weeks and really impressed everyone. It was a case of right place, right time for him, but he’s not done it since.

“I’m sure Leon has a different view, but it’s my view that counts. I decided after that Lincoln game that was it.”