A HUNGRY Pablo Counago is coming back to Portman Road to complete unfinished business, Blues chairman David Sheepshanks last night revealed.Sheepshanks has been impressed with Counago's desire to come back and play for Ipswich, while manager Jim Magilton and coach Bryan Klug have held face-to-face talks with the striker, who shone when he was watched in person by Town.

By Derek Davis

A HUNGRY Pablo Counago is coming back to Portman Road to complete unfinished business, Blues chairman David Sheepshanks last night revealed.

Sheepshanks has been impressed with Counago's desire to come back and play for Ipswich, while manager Jim Magilton and coach Bryan Klug have held face-to-face talks with the striker, who shone when he was watched in person by Town.

Sheepshanks said: “We knew we had the possibility to sign Pablo and both Jim Magilton and Bryan Klug went out to meet him towards the end of last season and Bryan watched him play and was hugely impressed. Pablo is very keen to be here as he feels he has unfinished business at the club and wants to show everyone what he is all about.”

After the disappointment of the Francis Jeffers deal falling through, Sheepshanks is delighted that Magilton has been able to add to his side so quickly, and he is sure Counago will soon win over the doubters.

“It is tremendous news and will add competition up front. Joe Royle always used to say you need four or five strikers in your squad to be successful and that is what we intend to have.

“I know Joe and Pablo didn't get on towards the end, although it was nothing personal. Jim knows Pablo's strengths and weaknesses and we had to be sure he really wanted to come back, and that is the clear message we are getting.

“All Ipswich fans know that on his day and when his attitude is right Pablo is a fantastic player and we have every reason to believe that he is coming back with the right attitude and that bodes well.”

Sheepshanks believes Counago, who was the Blues' top scorer in the 2002/03 season with 21 goals, will make Town even stronger up front.

“I really like Pablo but this is the manager's choice along with the coaching staff and he is a quality player,” he added.

“I know there has been some criticism from the fans about how long the Jeffers negotiations went on but that is the way it is. Candidly, we tried everything we could in order to reach agreement but it was not to be.

“We will have three top strikers in Pablo, Alan Lee and Jon Walters with Danny Haynes and Billy Clarke to push them, along with youngsters like Jordan Rhodes, and we have not discounted Dean Bowditch.”

And the chairman assured fans that more good news could be just around the corner.

He added: “This will not be the end of our signings as we have our eyes on another player, which could be a midfielder.

“We are aware of Neil Alexander but we have not made an offer and there is nothing in the pipeline on that.”