Town are being linked with a loan move for Sunderland right-back Phil Bardsley. The 28-year-old is currently sidelined with a broken foot for around a month, when it is expected he will move out on loan with manager Paolo Di Canio said to be weighing up whether to sanction a temporary switch to the Blues.

Salford-born Bardsley started his career with Manchester United and spent time on loan at Royal Antwerp, Rangers, Aston Villa and Sheffield United while at Old Trafford.

After a handful of senior appearances for the Red Devils, he moved to Sunderland for £2 million in January 2008. Since then he has made 145 starts and 22 sub appearances, scoring seven goals.

Bardsley, whose contract is up next summer, has hardly endeared himself to Black Cats boss Paolo Di Canio since he took over last season having initially angered the Italian when he was photographed in a casino lying on a pile of cash.

Then, having been linked with Fulham in the close season and after suffering his foot injury, the defender got himself into further hot water with a comment he made on Instagram.

Following the Wearsiders’ 1-0 home defeat to the Cottagers in their first game of the season, he posted: "Great opening day. Hahahhahaha hahahhaha!!!"

A suspension imposed by Di Canio was lifted after he apologised: "I would like to apologise to the club and supporters for my comments made on social media. I understand how they may have been interpreted.

"I accept the punishment that has been handed to me by the football club and will now focus my attention and efforts on rehabilitation and regaining my fitness."

Bardsley, who has won 12 Scotland caps, was previously linked with the Blues when Roy Keane — the man who took him to the Stadium of Light — was in charge at Portman Road.

While boss Mick McCarthy has repeatedly stated that he is happy with his 20-man squad and had no plans to add to it before last week’s deadline, he has said there is the facility to bring in loan players if required.

Right full-back may be an area where the Blues boss might look to make a further addition with 19-year-old Elliott Hewitt starting the first few games but having been replaced by Luke Chambers — primarily a centre-half — at Birmingham.

Photo: Action Images

Garv added 00:02 - Sep 9 I take it Veseli is considered not good enough yet? Bardsley's a good player, but his character -which Mick is supposedly very big on - is obviously questionable.
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martleshamitfc added 00:15 - Sep 9 no thank you! we should be looking to loan a striker?
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Garv added 00:31 - Sep 9 And yes, we need a striker/midfielder more urgently.
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RetroBlue added 00:35 - Sep 9 Who says we are not ALSO looking to bring in a striker ? We have never replaced Chopra as a an out and oout striker in our squad ,or have we ever replaced the experience that Stearman gave us at right back. Despite al the signings MM has made over the summer the club has spent diddly squit - and that includes wages.
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Mr_Evans added 00:48 - Sep 9 Would be an intelligent signing; I think we're sound with Cressy at LB with Smith, Chambers & Berra fighting for the CB places however, as much as I like Hewitt I do think he leaves us a tad vulnerable as he needs to be protected by the RM. I really hope MM doesn't flood our team with loanees but I think a good striker is needed.
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BrettenhamBlue added 03:50 - Sep 9 Have to agree with Mr Evans. Hewitt isn't strong enough yet to play regularly at right-back. I am sure he will become strong enough (in the future), but right now we are being exposed on our right side. 2 solid loanees needed. A right-back and a striker
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BrettenhamBlue added 04:30 - Sep 9 Was very impressed by Juri Biordi btw in the San Marino vrs Wales U21 game. Rock solid in defence. Ran with the ball a lot (for a defender) and was easily MOM. Only 18. Worth looking into. Scores a lot of goals for a defender.
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RegencyBlue added 07:19 - Sep 9 Sounds like Chopra character wise. Add to that it doesn't seem as if he will be fully fit for the best part of two months. No Thanks!
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JimmyJazz added 08:10 - Sep 9 Agree Regency Blue, Bardsley does in fact sound like a replacement for Chopra in the idiot online department
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kalypso added 09:21 - Sep 9 Bardsley is the new Chopra.
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kalypso added 09:22 - Sep 9 and his recovering from a broken ankle.
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Guthrum added 09:26 - Sep 9 Major foot injury (so won't have had time to get properly fit), plus comes across as a bit of a berk - doesn't sound very promising.
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jas0999 added 10:15 - Sep 9 So he's not fit? Nor likely to be for a while, whilst his behaviour is clearly not good. Decent player or not - surely not the right move for us. Plus if we wanted a RB - surely it would have been better to bring someone in loan prior to the window closing, rather than 93 days?
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pazelle added 10:15 - Sep 9 #stickwithhewitt
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big_gaz67 added 10:21 - Sep 9 "pictured in a casino lying on a pile of cash" - the words "ten foot pole" and "do not touch" come to mind. What happened to this great club?
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Keaneish added 11:02 - Sep 9 Pictured lying on a pile of cash? Not sure this reflects too much on his ability as a footballer, after all, George Best started the trend and i'd definitely have him in my team! I think i'd rather we looked for an experienced left back in truth so we could then push Cressy into left midfield.
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big_gaz67 added 11:42 - Sep 9 Keaneish - Is that all you care about his ability as a footballer!
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Stato added 12:02 - Sep 9 worse than lying on a pile of cash has to be taunting his team mates and supporters are opening day defeat. And if Mick looking to replace Hewitt then surely has to be on a season long basis. I would of thought a Stearman loan would of been cheaper ?
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Michael11 added 12:12 - Sep 9 Pro's: Solid full back Cons: Got a broken foot! Bad influence Mocks his club on twitter (Remind you of someone Mr Chopra?) Think we should stick with what we have, the defence is by far our biggest strength in the team. We need creative midfielders and goal scoring strikers more.
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Help added 12:18 - Sep 9 No disrespect to the man, but anything associated with Mr R K is a no from me.
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Keaneish added 12:27 - Sep 9 Big_gaz67 - His ability to play in an Ipswich Town football shirt and represent Ipswich Town, yes. What else is there to care about? the man's moral fibre? Why do i care what he does in his personal life? As long as he's not bringing the club's name into disrepute then fine...not that i want us to sign Bardsley either way!
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bennyitfc added 13:33 - Sep 9 So average.
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big_gaz67 added 14:33 - Sep 9 Isn't a player who has the privilege of getting paid a huge salary for something they love doing representing their club at all times? - not just 3 to 5 on a Saturday..
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Keaneish added 15:38 - Sep 9 Why does the salary make any difference? The Mayor of Ipswich is probably on a good whack but who cares what council members really do outside of work. As long as they're performing in the role they're being paid to do and they're within their code of conduct then where's the issue? I don't represent my employer after I finish my 9-5. I don't for one minute condone the large sums of cash footballers earn but if you act within an agreed code of conduct, why should it matter?

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TimmyH added 15:54 - Sep 9 It's a big nope from me!...creative wide man for me then goalkeeper before the right back position, Chambers did ok on the right against Birmingham? but then that leaves us a bit short if we pick up any injuries.
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