BLUES legend Martijn Reuser last night warned Willem II team-mate Iwan Redan will need time to bed into Ipswich Town's Championship challenge.Reuser, who scored in the Town's play-off final victory against Barnsley and helped them reach fifth in the Premiership and a place in Europe in their first season back, recommended Town to Redan who played in trial game behind closed doors yesterday.

BLUES legend Martijn Reuser last night warned Willem II team-mate Iwan Redan will need time to bed into Ipswich Town's Championship challenge.

Reuser, who scored in the Town's play-off final victory against Barnsley and helped them reach fifth in the Premiership and a place in Europe in their first season back, recommended Town to Redan who played in trial game behind closed doors yesterday.

The 25-year-old attacking midfielder will return to Holland tomorrow as Willem II prepare for their game with Feyenoord and will find out after training today if the Blues are going to take their interest further.

Reuser endorsed Redan's qualities but was also cautious about how the left-winger would fit into the current Ipswich team.

He said: “Iwan is a big, strong player who has scored goals, as his record shows. It will be interesting to see if he is the type of player Joe Royle and Willie Donachie like.

“He did well for us last season and played in the Amstel Cup final with us but this year he has had a few injury problems and not played so much.

“If Iwan did join Ipswich, which I know he is excited about, then it will probably take him time to get used to the English game.

“He asked me about Ipswich before he came over and I was happy to say what a great club it is. I had some wonderful times there. More highs than lows and there are a lot of good people there too, so I said he should go for it and enjoy it.”

After making 32 appearances last season with eight goals, Redan has played just twice this season, both times as a substitute and the sacking of their manager last month has left him out of favour with new boss Kees Zwamborn, who was Willem II's technical director, ready to let him search for a new club and move in January.

Reuser's team have had problems this season after reaching the final of the Dutch Cup Final in May and have slipped to second bottom of the Eridivisie, leaving the old Town favourite with a sense of déjà vu.

While the Tricolores look to turn things around and make moves in the transfer window, so do Ipswich.

Former Burnley and QPR defender Arthur Gnohere and Frenchman Delis Ahou also impressed the watching Blues coaching staff and also have a chance of being taken on as injury worries continue to haunt Town.

With four games in eight days looming the Blues can't afford many more dropouts.

Sam Parkin is making steady progress from his broken ankle and had the plaster off on Tuesday night and was in the swimming pool yesterday as he makes a determined effort to be fit before the end of the season.

Adam Proudlock is still out with a knee injury and with Royle keen to sign the striker for the rest of the season when he was initially sacked by Sheffield Wednesday, it will come as no surprise when his loan period is extended in January.

Dean McDonald is back from his successful loan spell at Hartlepool where he scored a cracking goal and will go straight into Saturday's squad to face Crystal Palace and has a good chance of starting.

In midfield Royle could be spoiled for choice, with Owen Garvan and Ian Westlake also available and Kevin Horlock is expected to rejoin the senior squad's training session today after a knee problem.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk