Blues boss Paul Jewell has confirmed that he’d like to keep loan centre-half Danny Higginbotham at Portman Road beyond his initial one-month spell. The 33-year-old Stoke man has said he’d be keen to stay on, while Potters boss Tony Pulis has said he won’t stand in Higginbotham’s way if he wants to remain with the Blues.

Jewell said: “Danny’s come here and just wants to play football. Obviously in the two games he’s started he’s done very well. I think he enjoys the club. He knows that it’s a good club.

“I spoke to him yesterday briefly and he’s just really enjoying playing football again. I’ve got a good relationship with Tony and if we could take Danny for longer we would like to do that.”

He says there have yet to be talks regarding a second month with all thoughts currently centred on getting the Blues out of the bottom three: “I think Danny’s one of those people that knows that there’s a lot more going at the football club at the moment than personal situations and what people want to do.

“All we’re focused on is getting a few results. We get a few results then we can start looking at personal situations.”

Jewell believes the one-time Manchester United trainee has helped make the Blues backline more solid in the two starts he has made up to now: “Danny is experienced, he’s been around the block, he knows what it’s about. He went to Nottingham Forest last year when they were struggling and helped steady that ship.

“It’s no slight on Tommy Smith because Tommy’s a great lad and we think Tommy will be a good player, but Danny’s just got that calming influence that we need at the moment.

“He knows the game, he’s been around, he’s enthusiastic and, even though he’s on loan, he hasn’t come here and just been part of it, he wants to be one of the main leaders.

“And anyone who has seen the two games he’s started, certainly from the way he organises and the way he talks, will have seen that that’s what he does.”

Photo: Action Images

Mark added 06:18 - Oct 5 I think Higgingbottom will make a very important difference to us, I just worry he'll be another Andrews/Collins who talks about wanting to come here but who will choose another club in January.
0

Dissboyitfc added 07:13 - Oct 5 Good loan signings are few and far between, think that higginbotham is a good one, but worry that some of the others perhaps might have the unsettling factor towards team moral with their, Personal agenda top of their priorities as described by one of town players only a few weeks ago on this very site,...... coyb
0

JimmyJazz added 08:19 - Oct 5 So if everyone wants a longer stay what's the hold up? Is it the loan rules whereby you can only extend at the end of the first month?
0

Karlosfandangal added 08:48 - Oct 5 We might send him back after the Cardiff game for the 2 week break and re sign so he is here till Jan window
0

Jon_456 added 10:42 - Oct 5 Happy with higginbotham. not so sure about having 3 midfielders, 4 if you include murphy, on loan when we have hyam and carson waiting, when fit.
0

rosseden added 11:35 - Oct 5 '' we think Tommy will be a good player'' quite telling, i agree though,long way from the finished article....
0

Marcus added 18:40 - Oct 5 "there's a lot more going at the football club at the moment than personal situations and what people want to do." This is a very vague way to say things are in a mess at the moment. The problem is when trying to find out who's responsible it seems to be a perpetual blame passing activity rather than one person standing up and stating they made a mistake.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls