Ipswich Town are leading the chase for ex-Crawley Town winger Jordan Roberts, we understand.

The 24-year-old is now a free agent after his contract expired at League Two side Crawley Town.

Primarily a left-sided player, he put two injury-disrupted campaigns behind him to shine in Harry Kewell’s struggling outfit last during the first half of last season.

An injury crisis at Broadfield Stadium saw him operate as an auxiliary striker, with seven goals in 25 appearances attracting January interest from Burton, Blackburn and Paul Hurst’s Shrewsbury.

And despite Roberts falling down the pecking order during the back end of last season, Hurst saw enough to convince him to take a punt following his summer switch to the Blues.

Hurst, who has managed at steps seven to three in the football pyramid, has a track record of recruiting players from non-league backgrounds.

Watford-born Roberts started out at Aldershot and had spells at Havant & Waterlooville, Tamworth and Bishop’s Stortford before a season north of the border with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

He was reportedly in Scotland to hold talks with Hearts last week, with Bolton also said to be interested.