CELTIC club captain, Stephen McManus, has been linked with a possible move to Ipswich Town for the second time this season.

Carl Marston

CELTIC club captain, Stephen McManus, has been linked with a possible move to Ipswich Town for the second time this season.

Town boss Roy Keane is eager to bolster his options at the heart of defence, following a dismal start to the season, and also Gareth McAuley's recent injury blow, so interest in the experienced McManus might well have been rekindled.

Hoops boss Tony Mowbray was reportedly prepared to let McManus move to Portman Road in August, although neither a fee or personal terms were agreed.

Having recovered from an early-season knee injury, Scottish international McManus, who is nicknamed “Mick” after the wrestler, is now back in the Celtic starting line-up.

The 27-year-old was in the side that won 2-1 at Hamilton last weekend, and also featured in Europe the previous week.

Mowbray has recently criticised the squad he inherited from his predecessor Gordon Strachan, and he has threatened an overhaul in the January transfer window. That might include McManus.

Current Middlesbrough manager Strachan has defended the quality of players he left Mowbray.

He said: “I'm surprised because there are some terrific players at that football club. I don't want to comment on what Tony might have said but I will say this - I used to go to training and think to myself, 'I love watching this'.”

Town are currently rock bottom of the Championship table with no wins from their first 14 games.

McAuley limped off with a thigh injury during last weekend's 1-1 draw at fellow strugglers Plymouth, and is expected to be out of action for a fortnight.