IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton today said it would be fantastic if he could bring 34-year-old Spaniard Ivan Campo into the club.

Elvin King

IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton today said it would be fantastic if he could bring 34-year-old Spaniard Ivan Campo into the club.

“If he signs it will be good for us - and also good for Ivan,” said Magilton.

The player, who was released by Bolton at the end of last season and has the same agent as Blues striker Pablo Counago, was shown round the Ipswich training ground yesterday.

“It would have been nice if we could have had some nice Spanish sunshine, but it was damp and dreary,” added Magilton. “But hopefully Ivan was impressed by what he saw and that talks can progress.”

The Blues boss sees Campo fulfilling a vital role at the club - and plugging a hole in his squad.

“To be able to attract him would be fantastic,” added Magilton. “We have lost the experience of Jason De Vos, Fabian Wilnis and Sylvain Legwinski from last season.

“Ivan would give us back that as he has been there, and his experience and quality can rub off on to our younger players.”

Campo, who has four Spanish caps and played for Real Madrid before joining Bolton, has his own individual style.

But he can certainly play, and has the versatility to fill a number of roles with midfield being his best position.

Magilton makes the continued development of young players through the club's famed academy a priority.

But he also sees the importance of having the right calibre of senior players in his squad.

He went on: “I was influenced by senior players when I was a young player, and they can show what is required by leading by example.

“The dressing room is for players - not managers - and you need strong characters in there to knit it all together.”

Magilton, who says that young defenders Tommy Smith and Pim Balkestein remain in line to face Preston when the Coca-Cola Championship season starts against Preston at Portman Road on Saturday, wants his kids to immerse themselves into the game.

“I want them to be football daft,” he said. “They will have learned from watching West Ham on Monday night, and they should watch Match of the Day every weekend and as much Spanish football on TV as they can.”

Magilton also has Alex Bruce very much in his thoughts with Saturday's game in mind. And he revealed that he is likely to make several changes for next Tuesday's home Carling Cup game against League Two Leyton Orient.