BLUES boss Jim Magilton will carry on his search for loan players despite a set-back in his attempts to land a Premier League defender.

Derek Davis

BLUES boss Jim Magilton will carry on his search for loan players despite a set-back in his attempts to land a Premier League defender.

Magilton still hopes to sign at least one more loanee before next month's deadline but chief executive Derek Bowden doesn't believe it will be this week.

Bowden last night said: “We are actively looking at bringing in loan players but it is unlikely at the moment that we will have someone in place before the weekend.”

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has made it clear he will not allow centre-half Ryan Shawcross to go out on loan while they are still in the League Cup and is reluctant to lose him at all.

His decision has also impacted on Derby County, who wanted to take Shawcross, and they are now understood to be keen on Hull City's Wayne Brown, who is a player that Magilton knows all about and is available on loan.

Brown was at Portman Road recently to see Ipswich play as a guest of skipper Richard Naylor

The Town manager is also keen on signing a winger and even though Alan Quinn has done a fine job wide left, Magilton would like to add to that position, with Darren Ambrose a target.

Republic of Ireland international Keith Gillespie is another who would fit the bill on the left side.

The 33-year-old winger has fallen out with Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell and Magilton is a known admirer of the veteran, who has a wealth of experience in winning promotion and playing in the Premier League.

Birmingham City forward Gary McSheffrey is another possibility on the radar after his limited chances at St Andrews of late.

The 26-year-old, who cost City £4m from Coventry City, is as comfortable on the left side of midfield as he is accomplished up front but has come under fire from Birmingham fans.

While Magilton continues to look at bringing in a loanee he is hoping for a clean bill of health from those on international duty this week.

Gareth McAuley played at right back in Northern Ireland's 2-0 loss against Slovenia but with Jonny Evans suspended should move back to centre-half when they play San Marino tomorrow.

Alex Bruce has been passed fit after picking up an abductor strain while captaining the Republic of Ireland 'B' side to victory over Nottingham Forest last week and is included in the senior squad that plays Cyprus in a World Cup qualifier.

Owen Garvan is expected to start for the Republic's Under-21s who are in action in Lithuania tonight.

Velice Shumulikoski is in Reykjavik with Macedonia as they play a group game against Hermann Hreidarsson's Iceland tomorrow.