BLUES boss Joe Royle is looking to secure a new striker within the next 48 hours after Danny Haynes was ruled out for at least a month.But such is the injury curse for Ipswich Town forwards that Royle's first target had to be side-stepped because he, too, is injured.

BLUES boss Joe Royle is looking to secure a new striker within the next 48 hours after Danny Haynes was ruled out for at least a month.

But such is the injury curse for Ipswich Town forwards that Royle's first target had to be side-stepped because he, too, is injured.

Haynes, who was injured moments before scoring the winner at Norwich City on Saturday, was found to have ankle ligament damage after scans and is likely to miss the next five or six games.

With Sam Parkin not due to play his first reserve game until next week - and that will probably just be 45 minutes against Crystal Palace - and Adam Proudlock still short of match sharpness after a knee injury and illness, Royle is looking to dip into the emergency loan market.

Royle said last night: “I am struggling to ever remember an injury curse like this, especially to strikers at a club.

“Even the first player on a very short list of loan strikers who I asked about has got himself injured so we can't go there.

“I have asked about other strikers and I'm hoping for a couple of managers to come back to me in the next couple of days.”

The list of casualties also includes Nicky Forster, who is out for the rest of the season, Billy Clarke and Daryl Knights, who are still a little way off first-team contention due to injury or illness, and Dean McDonald, who is likely to get a place on the bench.

McDonald will be keen to get the chance to score his first Championship goal after netting on loan at Hartlepool.

Haynes will join midfielder Gavin Williams on the sidelines for the home game with Burnley on Saturday, although impressive Irish youngster Owen Garvan will play despite picking up five bookings.

Those bookings mean Garvan will be suspended and so will miss the away-day at Crewe Alexandra, which could pave the way for a return by Kevin Horlock to the squad.

Millwall, Barnsley and Oldham Athletic have expressed interest in Horlock, while both Doncaster Rovers and Yeovil have recently failed to come up with the necessary wages to take Horlock to their respective clubs, which Royle is quite pleased about.

He said: “I'm more than happy to be keeping Kevin. We only said Kevin could go out on loan to help him, because we won't be renewing his contract in the summer. He is still a very good player and is great in the dressing room so is good to have here. Things change in football as we know so he could well be in the side again soon.”

Jason De Vos Column - Page 45