BLUES boss Joe Royle is hoping to sign a defender on loan today after allowing Aidan Collins to hold talks with League Two leaders Wycombe Wanderers.With money to spend Royle is looking to strengthen his side ahead of Saturday's tough encounter with second-placed Sheffield United in the Championship.

By Derek Davis

BLUES boss Joe Royle is hoping to sign a defender on loan today after allowing Aidan Collins to hold talks with League Two leaders Wycombe Wanderers.

With money to spend Royle is looking to strengthen his side ahead of Saturday's tough encounter with second-placed Sheffield United in the Championship.

Royle is known to be keen on Chelsea's German international Robert Huth and has asked about him before, while Aston Villa's JLloyd Samuel is looking for a fresh start somewhere. The Blues may have to settle for a less experienced player from outside the Premiership and are looking to bring some trialists of their own in again.

It is clear that 19-year-old FA Youth Cup winner Aidan Collins will not be given another chance after being told he will not be given a new contract.

Chelmsford-born Collins has headed to the Causeway where former Blues coach John Gorman has taken Wanderers to the top of League Two and is considering linking up with Matt Bloomfield, another former Town prospect.

Collins said: “I'm going to Wycombe to have a look round and have a chat with the manager Mr Gorman.

“There are other clubs who have expressed an interest in me so I will see what is the best thing to do.

“I have seen Wycombe play and know they play the right way, as I try to do, and I have heard a lot of good things about them and John Gorman.”

Collins has also spoken to Felixstowe-lad Bloomfield, who has scored four goals in 19 starts for the Chairboys this season to help them to top spot.

He said: “Matt has told me a lot of good things about Wycombe and also what a relief it can be to go somewhere and start again. He joked that between us we must have played more reserve games for Ipswich than anyone else. It is so much better playing for points and in games where everything means so much.”

Bloomfield won a Premier Reserve League title under Dale Roberts, while Collins has an FA Youth Cup winners' medal.

He added: “I have enjoyed myself with Ipswich. It is a lovely club. Joe has been good with me - he gave me my debut at Derby but sometimes these things happen in football and you have to move on to start afresh.

“Hopefully I can go somewhere and in 50 games or so prove myself to be the player I know I can be and progress up the leagues.”

Town are looking to give new £150,000-signing Alan Lee his debut on Saturday against the Blades but not with Nicky Forster, who has suffered another setback.

The former Reading man will have a scan on his problem knee.

With Sam Parkin progressing well but still some way off from full fitness, and Adam Proudlock also not fit, Danny Haynes will look to keep his starting place.

Dean McDonald and Dean Bowditch will be likely to challenge him for that position.