BLUES' boss Joe Royle does not intend pursuing his interest in Leeds striker Ian Moore any further.Moore was the striker Town tried to sign on loan as the transfer window closed, but the Yorkshire club did not want to let him go and as far as Town are concerned that is the end of the matter.

By Derek Davis

BLUES' boss Joe Royle does not intend pursuing his interest in Leeds striker Ian Moore any further.

Moore was the striker Town tried to sign on loan as the transfer window closed, but the Yorkshire club did not want to let him go and as far as Town are concerned that is the end of the matter.

Royle said: “We heard a whisper that Ian Moore may be available on loan so we tried for him on the last day of the transfer window as he can cover for a number of different positions.

“Leeds did not want to loan him out so that would appear to be the end of it.”

The Town boss also denied he had asked about taking former blues striker David Johnson on loan from Nottingham Forest. Town were linked with the former favourite after Gary Megson revealed he had turned down a loan move for the striker on the final day of the transfer window.

With Nicky Forster making good strides in his recovery after a cartilage operation, Royle is less inclined to bring in another player just yet.

Forster started running when the players got back to training yesterday morning and even though he is still two or three weeks away from playing in the first team, he represents the only first team regular out of action at the moment.

Royle watched as Town reserves took on Arsenal at Portman Road with Jason de Vos making his comeback after a rib injury, while Jay McEvely was wearing the Blues of Town for the second time after appearing for the reserves at Fulham last week.

Royle said: “We will see how everyone is and we will look to see how strong we are now that virtually everyone is back.

“It is not an emergency to bring any one in although we are always looking at our options.”

Ipswich would get a healthy boost to their player budget if Darren Bent gets a run out for England against Northern Ireland, at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Although Peter Taylor tried to get Bent back for the Under 21 squad who play Germany tonight, he was told the former Town striker would be staying with the senior squad, even though Michael Owen is also available.

Meanwhile, Lewis Price will have to be patient a little longer as he waits to make his senior Welsh debut.

A top class display against England on Saturday means Burnley's Danny Coyne is set to keep his place in Warsaw tomorrow night when Wales take on Poland in a World Cup qualifier.

Although Wales have another game next month against Northern Ireland in Belfast, Price may now have to wait until four days later when they host Azerbaijan in Cardiff. Although the Welsh have no chance of qualifying for next year's World Cup finals in Germany, John Toshack is keen they finish above the Irish in the group for seeding purposes.

Any drop in rankings would affect their seedings in the forthcoming European championships, which Toshack is now targeting.

He is known to be keen on giving Price his full debut and may see the Azerbaijan game as the ideal opportunity, if not Cyprus in November would be the next opportunity.

The Ipswich Town keeper was in line to make his full international bow in a friendly against Slovenia last month, but injured a knee in a Championship game against Leicester City.

That also meant he missed out on playing against England, at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, and had to settle for a place on the bench.