IPSWICH Town striker Jon Stead has yet to make up his mind whether to join Coventry City.

Elvin King

By Elvin King

IPSWICH Town striker Jon Stead has yet to make up his mind whether to join Coventry City.

He has asked Sky Blues manager Chris Coleman to have a couple of days to think it over after the midlands club agreed terms with Ipswich manager Roy Keane over a loan deal to the end of the season with a view to making the move permanent.

Coventry were hoping to have Town's current joint leading in their starting line-up for their league match against Queens Park Rangers at the Ricoh Arena today.

But after speaking to Colman on Thursday night Stead requested a 48 hours to think things over.

Coventry, who signed striker Freddy Sears on loan from West Ham on Thursday, are keen to bring in a new front man to partner the youngster.

Chairman Ray Ranson will be reluctant to let the matter drag on beyond the weekend with a game at Newcastle on Wednesday.

He wants to bring in an additional new face by then.

Keane gave Coventry permission to talk to Stead, and it is now up to the player who has settled into life in rural Suffolk in a village close to Bury St Edmunds.

Stead, who has six goals this term and is level with skipper Jon Walters, will know that Keane is willing to let him go.

He has to weigh up feelings of being surplus to requirements at Portman Road with a move to the midlands.

Pablo Counago had an opportunity to join Swansea last summer when Keane gave the Welsh club the okay to talk to him.

The Spaniard decided to stay and fight for his place, and Keane was happy to accept the player's decision.

He will no doubt deal with Stead in the same manner, but is happy to give the former Huddersfield, Sunderland and Sheffield United player a chance to play more regular football.

If Stead does leave, the path would become clear for Keane to bring in a new face in the emergency loan system to strengthen his left back or striking positions.