Disappointed Town boss Paul Jewell says he’s not now expecting to add to his squad before this season’s opening game at Bristol City on Saturday. The Blues have been trying to land Blackburn midfielder Keith Andrews on loan and another unnamed addition, while Jewell confirmed that, as reported by TWTD on Tuesday, Slovenian youngster Aljaž Struna has been at the club this week.

Jewell said: “There won’t be any new signings for the weekend unless something comes out of left field.

"We were hoping to have one, maybe two [new signings for Saturday], but for different reasons they’re not going to happen. Hopefully they can happen in the next couple of weeks.

“I think it’s important to stress that it’s not all about Saturday, whatever the result Saturday - good, bad or indifferent - we’re still going to try to improve the squad.

“I’m disappointed in the way one of the clubs has behaved in the… I’d like to say negotiations, but there are no negotiations when someone won’t answer your calls.

“That’s one disappointment. Maybe they haven’t paid their bill. Maybe they’ll come back to us later in the week.”

Blackburn’s Keith Andrews is likely to have been one of the players Jewell hoped to have signed with the 30-year-old Republic of Ireland international understood to want to join the Blues but with clubs yet to agree the terms of a loan deal. The other player’s identity, probably a centre-half, remains a mystery.

Jewell refused to be drawn on the identities of his targets: “I’m not going to comment on names because we could be here all day. There are lots of names which have been bandied about, I think sometimes people just pick them out of a hat and luckily sometimes they might strike lucky.

“There’s no point in me talking about speculation and saying yes or no to names because we could be here all day.”

The Town manager did confirm that FC Koper defender or midfielder Aljaž Struna had been at the club this week, although the Slovenian U21 international, who celebrates his 21st birthday today, has now returned home: “He’s been training here. We’ve had him here for three days’ training just to have a look at him.

“The lad’s from Slovenia, he’s connected to a club and his club were good enough to let us have a look at him and we might pursue that in the future. He’s a midfield player who can also play at right-back.

“It’s really in the very early stages. Don’t write that we’re going to sign him, we’re just having a look at him.”

Jewell reiterated that he has given up on his attempts to bring former loanee Jimmy Bullard back to Portman Road from Hull: “We’ve spoken to [Hull’s head of football operations] Adam Pearson a number of times over the summer and I’ve spoken to Jimmy.

“It’s something that we would love to have done but financially it’s out of our remit. We’d like to have had Lionel Messi but we couldn’t afford him and I think Jimmy might be on a little bit more money to honest!”

The Town boss confirmed that he has a fully fit squad for Saturday's trip to Ashton Gate.

Elsewhere, former Town loanee Darren O'Dea has joined Leeds from Celtic for the season on a similar basis.

Photo: Action Images

StowTractorBoy added 12:13 - Aug 4 Jas are you saying Ellington and Roberts played in a 4-5-1 formation at Wigan - I think not. Like I have said previously if we win playing 4-5-1 no one will care its results that count.
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MathieandMarshall added 12:17 - Aug 4 Arsenal generally play 4-5-1 with Van Persie up top on his own (when fit) Walcott and Asharvin being our Martin and JET in the attacking midfield roles. I cant remember anyone ever saying that Arsenal play boring football??
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DanLyles added 12:24 - Aug 4 well I'm a bit nervous about having Delaney and Edwards in our back line against Maynard. They were both shocking against Wolves, especially compared to Cresswell and Ingimarsson.
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saffronblue added 12:30 - Aug 4 Not to mention Chelsea and Barcelona play 4-5-1/4-3-3, always here the chants of boring boring barca. Jas, think you should realise that PJ has a team that can play either way and not get fixated by 4-4-2. Totally with the Jimmy Bullard thing, it's not happening move on. Right what about Jordan Rhoades to play along side Chopra
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fatboyakasha added 12:38 - Aug 4 YES, Suzanna_Gekkaloys, stick it to 'em! Here's my coulda-shoulda Ipswich XI of the not so distant past. Stockdale Rosenior De Vos McAuley Cresswell Dyer Bullard Bowyer Dos Santos Wickham Bent Subs: Asmir Begovic Lee Martin Michael Chopra Jordan Rhodes Matt Holland Fabian Wilnis Sixto Peralta Martin Reuser
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nkotb_sect5 added 12:40 - Aug 4 jas0999 .. started to write an essay - but gave up. I disagree with you. Not very constructive I know........
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Mark added 12:46 - Aug 4 I am a bit concerned that we may play one-up-front, and I wonder if it is because we could not bring in the winger Jewell wanted (if that was not JET). It also surprises me that we are going into the season without a dedicated right-back. BUT, I totally disagree about Jewell being a negative manager!! He has signed Chopra, Ellington and JET, providing us the best attacking options we have had since the Bent and Kuqi days in my opinion. Bowyer can also chip in with goals and Cresswell is an attacking full-back. Compare this to a year ago when we desparately needed strikers and attacking midfielders, but Keane spent over half the transfer budget on a goalkeeper!! (who is not being offloaded like most of his signings). Keane played one-up-front most of the time and, worse than that, usually started with four centre backs! Keane set this club back and Jewell is turning it round.

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wrightyblue added 12:47 - Aug 4 Mental1 yes I will do he looks a very good creative fb sign him up!
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CharlieITFC added 12:48 - Aug 4 Some of you are ridiculous. PJ has worked wonders compared to what Keane did. We are no longer a Sunderland 'B' team, and have variety players that can play in a variety of positions. And as far as the formation goes, i agree with everyone who has spoken about the 4-5-1/4-3-3, with JET and Carson/Martin, i see no reason why this cannot work. We now have one of the most prolific championship strikers in Chopra, and with service he could be our 20-goal man. And although i believe we need another CB, our defence could be worse. Having a defensive player infront of the back four allows Bowyer to get forward and support the attack. Some of you just need to be more positive. We have had an active summer and look set for a decent season. Team to beat City: Stockdale Edwards Ingirmarsson Delaney Cresswell Kennedy Leadbitter Bowyer JET Martin Chopra

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GenericIpswichMan added 13:14 - Aug 4 Short and Sweet comment from me im afraid about the weekend. I would like to think that despite not getting anyone extra in before Saturday, that we have enough in our current squad to be able to beat Bristol City. After all, last season we turned them over whilst playing the bulk of the game with 10 men. I for one am very excited about what we have signed in the close season and am confident there will be more quality to follow.

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andygizmo added 13:16 - Aug 4 So bullard and Messi won't be signing!!! Damn whatever will we talk about now.... Things take a long time to sort in the modern game. Next week will do fine. Its a marathon not a sprint remember.
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WickedBlue added 13:17 - Aug 4 @jas0999 at least your right in your own mind....it must make you very happy....don't forget to take your meds....
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Essex_Tractor added 13:19 - Aug 4 Could be a good thing in a weird way All the other new signings have had at least a week to get to know each other a bit better and settle a bit - 2 last minute signings could have disrupted prep for Sat
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Surco72 added 13:21 - Aug 4 Jas 00999 as stated before 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 when attacking is not a boring formation it is about the players playing and the style of game adapted . I suppose you prefered Keanes 4-4-2 with 4 centre backs and 4 centre midfielders with no width ,no pace and constant hoofing from the back of last season do you ? Give Jewell and his team a chance if we are bottom not winning and not scoring then criticise ,dont do it just because you defended Keane for so long you looked a fool because you are looking the same by your constant critical views on Jewell who so far has improved the quality and depth of the squad without spending the millions Keane did , improved the style of performance and for the first time in a long time given most of the fans some optimism for the season ahead

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Tiggs added 13:40 - Aug 4 So, it's up and under football this season then. Entertainment value = 0.
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AndyUK61873 added 13:50 - Aug 4 Have to say people are crazy...reading the commnets that Struna would be a good signing....based on 1 You Tube clip.....all players have the 1 highlight moment (Priskin vs aresenal springs too mind), but that can be it just the 1 highlight.
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Sindre94 added 13:52 - Aug 4 Well hes trying his best, in PJ we trust.
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adamisablue added 13:53 - Aug 4 GUYS! can we please give up on commenting on bullard/gio on this wall!!!! on a serious note, i hear theres this real hot prospect going cheap at huddersfeild....whats his name again? ;)
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blue_em_away added 13:58 - Aug 4 Phil............ Can we have - Bullard, Rhodes and Gio set as swear words on your system please????
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GTRKing added 14:09 - Aug 4 it takes time & new playere which we will get should be subs or not play a full 90mins to start with. I trust PJ
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blue_em_away added 14:20 - Aug 4 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ????????????????
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fatboyakasha added 14:27 - Aug 4 I concur. GTRKing??????????
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planetblue_2011 added 14:35 - Aug 4 It is disappointing but we still have 7 new signings to help us win our 1st game.!! L I'm sure jewell will draft in his last couple of signings soon. Can't wait to kick off Saturday, come on
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runaround added 14:35 - Aug 4 Bit of a shame but gives the current players the chance to go out on the pitch Saturday and prove they are good enough. We have until end of window to get further players in and then the loan market comes into play so there will always be options. I really am looking forward to this season now and wish I could be at Aston Gate Saturday but will have to put up with Brenner Wooley's commentary, further wetting my appetite for my first match of season v Northampton! In PJ I trust.

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planetblue_2011 added 14:37 - Aug 4 It is disappointing but we still have 7 new signings to help us win our 1st game.!! L I'm sure jewell will draft in his last couple of signings soon. Can't wait to kick off Saturday, come on
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