TWTD understands that stay-away striker Paul Murphy was back at Town's Playford Road academy last week to hold talks regarding his future. Murphy, 17, failed to return after the academy's Christmas break blaming his absence on homesickness.

Republic of Ireland U19 international Murphy finally came back to Suffolk last week and met with club officials along with his representative, former Blue Paul Goddard, who these days works for Jonathan Barnett's Stellar Group.

We understand the talks were with a view to settling the remaining 16 months of the professional contract Murphy signed last summer.

A number of other clubs, presumably closer to Murphy's Irish roots, are believed to be keeping an eye on developments.

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