Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has confirmed he will definitely be recalling League One goal machine Kieffer Moore from his loan spell at Rotherham in the new year – but has not ruled out selling him for ‘bonkers’ money.

McCarthy signed Moore from National League side Forest Green Rovers for just £10k back at the start of 2017, gave him a handful of substitute appearances for the Blues, then loaned him to the Millers for the final year of his Portman Road contract.

The 6ft 5in striker has netted 13 league goals in 17 appearances for the South Yorkshire club, making him the leading scorer across English football’s top five tiers.

Moore said recently that he had not heard from McCarthy and that he would be happy to stay at the New York Stadium. It’s understood a host of clubs are tracking his progress.

• Moore says he’s happy to stay at Rotherham

“He doesn’t need to hear from me directly,” said McCarthy, who has made sure there was a mid-season break clause in Moore’s season-loan.

“When he went there I sent him a good luck message, he’s got on with it and scored his goals.

“If he’d scored one and everyone was giving it out to him then I’d be on the phone saying ‘keep going and you’ll get your chance.’ Right now, I’m probably the last person he wants to hear from, other than finding out what he’s going to be doing.

“He’ll be coming back, that’s my view. We’ll see if he can score as many in the Championship. Unless of course someone comes in and offers a bonkers deal for him, I don’t know.

• League One’s leading scorers all have Town links

“He might have 20-plus goals before Christmas and that would be something else.

“He’s doing great. That’s exactly the reason why, one; I signed him and, two; why I sent him out on loan to go and get his football. He wouldn’t have started here with Joe (Garner), Waggy (Martyn Waghorn) and Didzy (David McGoldrick).

“So it looks like a good bit of management to me.

“Just let him keep playing well and scoring goals. We’ll deal with it when the time comes.”

• AUGUST: Moore still has a lot to learn, says McCarthy

Rotherham boss Paul Warne said: “Kieffer is a brilliant bloke. He’s reading a book that I read in the summer about not having a massive ego. He just comes to training every day and tries to be the best he can be.

“Obviously, we want his future to be here and we will do everything possible to make that happen. However, we could offer X amount for him and anyone from any league could just come in and blow us out of the water.

“We’re doing a lot behind the scenes to replace him if he does go. But I’d like to think he’s going to stay here.

“Kieffer has never had so many games on the trot, has never performed to this level and has never scored so many goals. I think he is really happy here.

• OCTOBER: McCarthy hints at Moore recall in January

“He has an aura about him, even in the tunnel. People look at his physical stature and already know what he can do with the ball at his feet. They’re probably thinking: ‘I don’t fancy this.’

“He’s Ipswich’s player and they hold most of the cards.”