Sito to be thrown in at deep end

SPANISH trialist Sito will definitely feature for Ipswich against Atletico Madrid tomorrow.

The full-back - he is happy on either flank - will face his fellow countrymen after impressing Town boss Joe Royle in training.

But Sito - full name Luis Carlos Rodriguez - will not be facing Danish star Jesper Gronkjaer (pictured) after Atletico allowed him to travel to Germany for transfer talks with Stuttgart.

The former Chelsea winger is poised to join his fourth club in the space of just over 12 months, having moved to Birmingham last July and then to Madrid.

Their recent capture of Bulgarian international star Martin Petrov from German club Wolfsburg has convinced them they can do without Gronkjaer.

Atletico said the 27-year-old winger had put in a transfer request because he had been unable to adapt to life in Spain and said a move to Germany would allow him to be closer to his home country.

A club statement added: “The club understands that, given the circumstances, he will not be able to perform to the best of his ability and we will negotiate his departure.”

Apart from their game at Portman Road tomorrow evening, Atletico also have a friendly scheduled at MK Dons on Sunday.

Then they have two clashes with Premiership opponents - Middlesbrough on August 3 and West Bromwich Albion four days later - before returning home.

Royle liked what he saw of Sito in training and added: “He looked bright and lively. He's not the biggest, but he's lithe and quick.

“We will look at him against Atletico and decide what our next move is going to be.

“It might not be ideal throwing a player into one game and assessing him, but that's the situation we are in.”

Regardless of whether Sito fits the bill, Royle and his staff are continuing their search for defensive reinforcements and a French defender has been pencilled in for next week.

But the search is by no means confined to foreign

trialists, with a number of Premiership players also under review in connection with possible season-long loan deals.

Royle said: “We are in contact with a couple of clubs about players who might not even be aware of our interest in them.

“The Premiership clubs must first of all decide on their own requirements before they can tell us whether or not the players we like are going to be available to go out on loan.

“That's all we can say at the moment. We still have another four weeks or so of the transfer window and our enquiries are continuing.”

Town will be without strike pair Nicky Forster and Dean Bowditch tomorrow night, with 19-year-old Dean McDonald earmarked for his first senior start.

Kevin Horlock and Jimmy Juan are both likely to be fit and Royle is hoping that 17-year-old Owen Garvan also makes it.

He said: “Owen was able to train yesterday but his foot was still a bit sore. Hopefully he will be able to come through.”

n Milan Baros' agent has held talks with German club Schalke over the Liverpool striker's future.

Baros, 23, was left out of the 3-1 Champions League win against Kaunas in Lithuania earlier this week to avoid the Czech Republic striker becoming cup-tied and decreasing his value.

With Aston Villa understood to be ready to increase their offer for the player, his agent Pavel Paska has claimed to have held a meeting with Schalke manager Rudi Assauer.

Baros has also been linked with moves to Lyon and Valencia but no deal has been agreed yet.