IPSWICH striker Dean Bowditch has rejected a loan move to League One strugglers Oldham.The Town teenager was wanted by new Latics boss Ronnie Moore to aid their relegation struggle.

IPSWICH striker Dean Bowditch has rejected a loan move to League One strugglers Oldham.

The Town teenager was wanted by new Latics boss Ronnie Moore to aid their relegation struggle.

Portman Road chief Joe Royle said today: “I felt the move might have benefited Deano but he wasn't keen and that's the end of it.

“If another club came in for him we would consider that move on its merits. I believe he would benefit from playing first team football.

“He is not getting much first team experience here at the moment and he needs to score a goal somewhere.”

Bowditch, 18, has only started six Championship fixtures and two Carling Cup-ties this season. He has made a further 15 league appearances as a substitute and netted three goals.

He admitted recently that the lack of first team opportunities, combined with a failure to score at reserve level, was starting to get him down.

It could be that a club higher up the league, possibly even in the Championship, will be alerted to the player's possible availability and that opportunity might have more appeal to the academy graduate.

Meanwhile, Royle today revealed how a heart-to-heart with Matt Richards helped bring the youngster in from the cold.

Richards, 20, returned to first team action in the 1-0 defeat at Wigan on Saturday and earned several newspapers' man of the match award.

The Town boss said: “Matt did very well and was arguably as good as any player on the day. I was very pleased for him.

“He came to see me last week about what he had to improve and we had a good chat about his situation. He's a good lad with a terrific attitude and there's no doubt he wants to do it for this club.

“I put him in against Wigan because he'd done well against their right winger, Gary Teale, at our place.

“That earned him the nod ahead of Daniel Karbassiyoon and he did well against Teale again.”

Karbassiyoon has since returned to Arsenal before his three-month loan spell was concluded.

Royle said: “With David Unsworth coming in and Matt getting in ahead of him at the weekend, there were only going to be limited opportunities for Daniel.

“Arsenal wanted him back - they are anxious to see how he is doing - and we agreed. We naturally wish him well at Highbury.”

The 20-year-old American cancelled plans to return home for Christmas, preferring to join Town's promotion challenge. He made four senior starts for Town plus two substitute appearances.

Richard Naylor, captain at Wigan, limped out of training yesterday with a tight hamstring but Royle expects both him and on-loan striker James Scowcroft, who has a slight groin strain, to be fit for Saturday's visit of Nottingham Forest.

Second-bottom Forest won 2-0 at Watford last night, stretching their unbeaten run to six games. They have kept five clean sheets in that time.

Two young Town strikers are set to add to their international honours after being called up by their countries.

Bowditch is in the England Under-19 squad for three European Championship qualifiers later this month.

England take on Denmark at Crewe on March 26. Two days later they meet Sweden at Bury and then face Moldova at Blackpool on March 30.

Bowditch has started all four England Under-19 internationals this season.

Darryl Knights is set to add to his seven England Under-17 caps in a similar Euro qualifying campaign also taking place in this country.

Serbia and Montenegro are the opponents at Stoke on March 26. England then meet Northern Ireland at Wolverhampton two days later before taking on the Republic of Ireland at Walsall on March 30.