IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton is chasing Premier League international players as he looks to halt his team's slide against Charlton at Portman Road on Saturday.

Elvin King

IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton is chasing Premier League international players as he looks to halt his team's slide against Charlton at Portman Road on Saturday.

Following the 4-1 defeat at Barnsley on Tuesday the Blues have dropped down to tenth place in the Coca-Cola-Championship.

A defeat against Charlton could see Town drop further down the table - and come close to extinguishing the dream of a play-off place.

Ipswich were fourth in the table after 17 games, and the record shows that they performed better before the cash injection of new owner Marcus Evans, who gave Magilton £12million in December to bolster his spending power.

Ipswich have taken just 25 points from their last 20 games since November 27 when they were fourth after beating Southampton at home.

Magilton yesterday stepped up his search for loanees and has spoken to a number of top-flight clubs. A central defender has become more of a priority in the last week while Tuesday's defeat has intensified the search for a suitable quality striker.

Magilton is now convinced that he needs an influx of a player of two to boost his ailing side, and he realises the massive importance of the game against a Charlton Athletic side that are fifth in the table but have won four out of their last 17 league games, which, in truth, is relegation form.

But if the London-based side achieve the double over the Blues at the weekend they will move six points above Town - with eight matches remaining!

Town have won just two of their last seven at home with Magilton today issuing a rallying call to his troops.

“Our home form has been magnificent,” he said today. “We must keep that going until the end of the season.

“We must keep focused and eradicate any silly mistakes.

“If we can do that we have every chance.

“I expect a performance on Saturday, and a positive reaction from Tuesday's defeat at Barnsley.

“Football has a cruel habit of kicking you when you are down, but the wonderful thing about the game is that you get a chance to put things right straight away.”

Jonathan Walters should be fit to return after missing the trip to Barnsley with a knee problem, but Danny Haynes (groin) and Sito Castro (twisted ankle) remain doubts.