TWTD understands that boss Mick McCarthy is giving serious consideration to offering former striker Alan Lee a contract for the season ahead. Lee, 34, returned to the club earlier in the summer to begin coaching in the academy, but as reported this morning has been training with the first team this week.

Former Ireland international Lee was released by Championship Huddersfield Town at the end of last season after three years with the Terriers.

The Blues still have four frontline strikers despite having off-loaded Michael Chopra this week — David McGoldrick, Daryl Murphy, Frank Nouble and Paul Taylor — and we understand Lee is viewed as an additional option as cover or as an impact substitute.

The 6ft 2in tall frontman started his career with Aston Villa and spent time on loan with Torquay and Port Vale while with the Villans.

Galway-born Lee subsequently moved on to Burnley, Rotherham and Cardiff before joining the Blues for a fee £100,000 in January 2006. The striker, who is based at Dedham, went on to make 96 starts and 13 sub appearances, scoring 34 goals, prior to moving on to Crystal Palace in August 2008.

While with the Eagles he spent a short spell on loan at Norwich City towards the end of the 2008/09 relegation season.

Meanwhile, former Blues loanee Bilel Mohsni has signed a two-year deal with Rangers, having left Southend at the end of last season.

Photo: Action Images

jas0999 added 21:12 - Jul 26 Interesting .... I have nothing else to say ... erm, interesting ... !!
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osborne1nil added 21:12 - Jul 26 Town were a better team back then with AL in the side. Not a bad goals to game ratio and he used to win a fair few penalties if I recall. A fit AL played as either back up or impact could still do a job. Wouldn't hold his spell at NCFC against him as there have been good players in the past who have played for both clubs. If his loyalty is with Town now then that is what is required. MM & TC will know what to do and what they see in training. Good luck Alan if this happens.

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Crofty added 21:14 - Jul 26 Happy to have him as back up and he will always run though walls for our club
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ManningtreeBlue99 added 21:14 - Jul 26 Can't wait to see all the happy Leeds United faces when he plays against them! Happy memories :)
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parkinshair added 21:15 - Jul 26 Makes perfect sense to me as his knocking about the club anyway. Would love to see him back in a Town shirt as at 34 is still at an age where he can be a handy option on the bench. I think a line should be drawn under the Norwich episode. Chops "banter" has been far more disrespectful to the fans and some people are still wishing him well.
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Jimmy86 added 21:16 - Jul 26 manningtree blue ^^^ thats one well decent thing he did for our club, relegating dirty leeds!!
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 21:17 - Jul 26 Not going to say 'i told you so', but i called this when it was announced he was coming back as a coach. Think its a great idea!
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thebeat added 21:18 - Jul 26 Calm down negative people. He will only be 5th choice.Hes on the payroll anyway so if hes still fit we might aswell have him as backup
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TrueBlue93 added 21:20 - Jul 26 I always was a fan of Alan Lee, I would love to see him back playing for us
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itfc24 added 21:21 - Jul 26 Never understood why we ever let Lee leave in the first place he clearly liked playing for us and was a regular on the score sheet. Our club has made some odd decisions down the years.
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wayway added 21:24 - Jul 26 Jimmy what ever your name is, you are the kind of prat this forum and club can do without. Obviously someone who thinks last years team was the best in the clubs history and that in 3 years time we will win the champions league
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Jimmy86 added 21:26 - Jul 26 Itfc24 think it was probably because he was starting to get injured quite regularly. he scored a lot of goals for us and was above all committed. bearing in mind micks record so far and the fact he hasnt spent any money on fees, was hoping evans would release some funds to buy a decent striker
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itfc24 added 21:30 - Jul 26 JImmy86 we do have McGoldrick and Taylor who I think we can all agree are both decent strikers. Every club is after a 20 goal a season striker but there only are few about. I think we have got a better player in McGoldrick than N*rwich have just signed from Celtic and he hasnt cost us a penny. Lee will be a good back striker IMO.
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TimmyH added 21:30 - Jul 26 hhhhmmmm ok if he is on a small wage but wouldn't expect too much, still probably better than that fella who has just left.
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Cakeman added 21:30 - Jul 26 Would like to see Alan Lee back. Can only be of benefit and does it really matter If he played for the feathered never have been's or will be's up the road? From memory I do not think he ever asked to leave us either. Was he not forced out?
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billlm added 21:31 - Jul 26 hand in pocket ME stop messing around billy sharp end off, sorry guys slate away
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Nunn_the_Wiser added 21:33 - Jul 26 Horrific player. He was dreadful 6 years ago so I dread to think what he's like now. Might as well get Manuel Thetis back as well for defensive cover.
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StuartBrett8 added 21:35 - Jul 26 Sign him up!
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Jimmy86 added 21:36 - Jul 26 wayway, I am a realist and am entitled to my opinion. tell ya one things for sure, im not the only one on this forum who is somewhat suprised and dismayed by this development. just because I dont agree with it doesnt make me a prat. he did a good job for us before and the norwich thing may be slightly short sighted, but im not the only 1 guilty of that. we are def on the up and I am optimistic for the season ahead

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Deep_Blue added 21:37 - Jul 26 Alan Lee was and is a f**king terrible player.
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harlingblue added 21:38 - Jul 26 Good news, sound judgement yet again from MM. Alan Lee already on the payroll as youth coach, played in the Championship with Huddersfield last year...it's a no brainer yes from me.
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shiminywho added 21:40 - Jul 26 Better record for us than Chops, and a good deal cheaper, I'll wager. A workhorse who reminded me in some ways of Shefki Kuqi - he would never merit a starting place this season but would be useful as back-up. In Mick we trust. The Madjeski next week will be rocking!
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h32 added 21:41 - Jul 26 ......... well - gobsmacked really, and there has to be far better options. But if he is already on the staff - would make sense to have him as a registered player for emergencies I guess. MM'S judgement has to be seen as sound in my book.
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Guthrum added 21:42 - Jul 26 Having Lee as a player-coach, there is no down-side as far as I can see. Pass on his experience to the Yoof, use him as back-up/sub if needed. He's locally-based and obviously still likes it here. So what if he briefly played for Norwich, Joe Royle was a former NCFC Player of the Season and nobody was rejecting him on those grounds (plus I'd expect a player to celebrate scoring for whoever he was currently playing for, even against a former team - bet you'd all be in favour of an ex-Norwich man going wild after scoring for us against them).

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tractorboyz82 added 21:44 - Jul 26 Can he even move anymore imagine he's lost a bit of pace would rather a diff striker but mm knows best
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