NEWCASTLE United have rejected a bid by Ipswich Town to take Darren Ambrose back on loan.

NEWCASTLE United have rejected a bid by Ipswich Town to take Darren Ambrose back on loan.

Blues chairman David Sheepshanks last night confirmed they had made a move for the midfielder who they reluctantly sold to the Magpies for £1.5m last March but had been knocked back, writes Derek Davis.

Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson is still concerned over Ambrose's fitness, even though he played 90 minutes and scored in their reserves' victory over Aston Villa on Monday, and is reluctant to let him out on a temporary basis.

But Sheepshanks is hopeful that he can still bring back the 19-year-old midfielder who has told friends he would love to return to Portman Road and help his former club.

Sheepshanks said: "We approached Newcastle United about taking Darren on loan but they said no. I know a number of other clubs have also asked about the possibility of taking him but Newcastle are still worried about his long term fitness.

"Nothing will happen in the immediate term but we have not completely given up hope. You never know, it may happen later on, if Joe still wants to bring him in."

The EADT revealed on Monday that Town were keen on taking Ambrose and had watched him in the reserves.

I understand Ambrose believes he is fit to play and is not happy at being left out of Robson's first-team plans and would welcome regular football again at Portman Road.

Royle has been linked with a number of targets but Darren Huckerby and Peter Crouch are not among them.

Crouch's agent contacted Royle some time ago but Ipswich were not interested so Royle was quite happy to see him join another club. He said: "We were never in for Peter Crouch, his agent phoned me about him and that is as far as that one went."

City boss Nigel Worthington has missed out on half a dozen strikers who have preferred to go elsewhere, but with no competition for the 6'7'' Villa misfit, he was successful this time.

But he looks set to be disappointed in a bid to land Gillingham striker Marlon King, with Nottingham Forest also in for him.

Royle confirmed he had not made any loan move for Huckerby, who he signed for Manchester City from Leeds United for £2.2m.

The former Newcastle United and Coventry City midfielder was on loan at Nottingham Forest last season but manager Paul Hart decided he did not want to keep him this season.

Magpies defender Wayne Quinn is set to join Walsall on loan to cover for Zigo Aranalde who faces a three-match ban which would see him missing games against Ipswich, Derby and Millwall.