DAVID McGoldrick will continue training with Ipswich Town between now and the end of the season, and will not return to help Nottingham Forest’s play-off push.

The 25-year-old striker was unable to sign anything more than a 93-day loan deal at Portman Road in January, having already spent the first half of the season at League One side Coventry City.

McGoldrick is out-of-contract at the City Ground in July and a deal was agreed in principle between Forest and then-Town chief executive Simon Clegg, for a permanent two-year deal to be penned this summer, provided the Blues stayed up.

However, Clegg has since left Ipswich, while Billy Davies, right – the man that signed McGoldrick for Forest – has replaced Alex McLeish, who considered McGoldrick surplus to requirements.

Davies is unlikely to offer the striker new terms at the City Ground though and his move to let the former Southampton man remain in Suffolk signals his intent to use the likes of Simon Cox, Darius Henderson and Billy Sharp instead.

McGoldrick made his final appearance of his temporary spell in the Blues’ 1-0 win at Derby on Saturday and his contribution, including four goals in 13 games, since arriving has helped move Town to the brink of safety.

Town boss Mick McCarthy revealed on Saturday that the Blues had always been aware of the restrictions of McGoldrick’s loan deal and expressed his delight in keeping them under wraps.

“It might have been a surprise to everyone else (loan expiring), but it wasn’t for me. I’d planned for it all along,” he said.

“It’s not always wise to always tell you guys (the media) everything. I know you want to know everything, and generally you find out most things, but it was lovely that nobody found out about that one.

“You find out 99% of stuff that goes on.”