Town boss Mick McCarthy believes Arsenal would be open to midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles rejoining the Blues and that it’s down to the player and his representatives whether he returns to Portman Road for a second loan spell. The Blues boss has played down the chances of Tyrone Mings returning on loan and wouldn’t be drawn on speculation that Burnley winger Michael Kightly might be on his radar.

Asked whether 18-year-old Maitland-Niles returning to Portman Road is possible, McCarthy said: “I don’t know. That would be down to him. I think he’ll be a much better player this year for the 12 months he had in the Championship.

“We all saw what a good player he was at the start of the season, for the first half. I think he found it tough, so it’s up to him and his representatives.

“I think Arsenal would be more than happy for him to come back. I think they’d be pleased to see him to come back.”

Maitland-Niles, who made 23 starts and nine sub appearances for the Blues last season, scoring twice, is currently away with the England U19s at the European Championships in Germany.

Regarding links with Burnley wideman Kightly, who played for McCarthy at Wolves, the Town boss said: “The thing is, as soon as I say I haven’t got any wingers and I’d like some wingers anybody who is available or might be available I get linked with, especially my ex-players. But as you know, I wouldn’t comment whether it’s right or wrong.”

On reports claiming former Blue Tyrone Mings could return to Portman Road on loan from AFC Bournemouth as he makes his comeback from the serious knee injury which ended his 2015/16, McCarthy says it’s unlikely.

“I don’t know if Tyrone mooted that because I think he sees that he’s probably unlikely to get in there,” he added.

“I think he said, ‘Maybe I could go back and play at Ipswich’, but I’ve got a left-back that’s done really well for me and taking one on loan when Jonas Knudsen really was excellent last year and Myles Kenlock, who was excellent in the last two games of the season, against Derby I thought he was terrific, would be counterproductive for the players I’ve got.

"Unlikely that one. And he’s not going to be fit, maybe until December anyway.”

Photo: Action Images

marty5037 added 06:12 - Jul 11 Do we really want m-n back ,thought he was poor last season.
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LimitlessBlue added 06:28 - Jul 11 I would not be overly impressed with AMN returning, didn't show the desire that he really wants to play at even this level.
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Dissboyitfc added 07:07 - Jul 11 Knudsen, werent excellent in my opinion. and no thanks to Naitland !
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ArnieM added 07:12 - Jul 11 Wouldn't want AMN thanks. He was really all that good - couldn't keep possession of the ball for toffees. Mings, definitely not. He wouldn't get in our team now and ta boot isn't remotely fit. No Thanks again. Kightly, maybe 39yrs old, but is an experienced winger we need. Yes Please.
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ArnieM added 07:12 - Jul 11 Bloody predicted text. should read 30yrs as you all know ;)
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TractorCam added 07:16 - Jul 11 Surely if Leeds are in for Fraser we should be competing with them?
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Mark added 07:42 - Jul 11 Like everyone else I thought Maitland-Niles was a disappointment and I am surprised to read we would have him back. With the lack of new signings it feels like it could be a re-run of last season (but no Fraser), which will probably end with the same outcome of falling short of the play-offs with several matches to go. We could all do with a boost I think and something to show there is a real strategy for promotion in place.

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ArnieM added 07:42 - Jul 11 we might well be MM will be happy that this is under the radar if he is won't he.
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BrettenhamBlue added 07:45 - Jul 11 TractorCam We can't compete with Leeds. Or Huddersfield..or Brighton..or Blackburn...or Bristol City (the list goes on and on). We have Giles Coke. In Coke we trust. We did beat York City to his signature. ArnieM is spot on as usual. Kightly, maybe. Bennett, big big no. AMN too inconsistent and gave the ball away far too easily. Mings? Obviously star player but what kind of message does that send to Knudsen or Kenlock?

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MickMillsTash added 07:47 - Jul 11 Maitland Niles fell away last year - I'm not sure he is right for us or that Ipswich is right for him. Kightly ! is there an ex Wolves player who we have not been linked with?
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dirtyboy added 07:55 - Jul 11 AMN was decent at the beginning but did his performances did tail off quite quickly. Worth remembering he was away from home for probably the first time in his life too. Still young and will only improve. I'd welcome him back. Getting Mings back would be great in one way but detrimental to the progress of Knudsen and Kenlock. I think we'll be fine this season, there or thereabouts. January will be key this year.

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ElderGrizzly added 07:56 - Jul 11 If AMN can replicate his form from earlier in the season, then more than happy he rejoins. Mings, is a no. One as we don't want to get another club's player fit and secondly as we have 2 more than capable LBs of our own. We don't need Mings holding them back
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essex57 added 08:05 - Jul 11 Knudsen was probably the most improved player last season and we will see the benefit this year. Forget about Fraser and Williams to prone to injury with our small squad we can't afford to rely on players who are going to spend long periods on the side lines. Wouldn't mind AMN back I know he lost his way a bit last season but I think that could be said of the club in general and last year's experience will hold him in good stead.

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Wallingford_Boy added 08:21 - Jul 11 TractorCam - How can we compete with Leeds?! We don't have their money and they are going to be challenging for the play offs, so a lot more attractive to Fraser than us!
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Bluebell added 08:25 - Jul 11 Hmmm... not convinced by Maitland Niles but I suppose he is a year older. I think the problem is Arsene Wenger obviously wants him getting game time which means he has to play. Mick also has to accept he will receive abusive texts from AMN's when he doesn't play. Chambers, AMN and Sears on the right just didn't work last season. I would prefer to see Sears up front and a nippy winger (like Fraser) in midfield. I would love Fraser back on the left but I guess we can't compete with Leeds in the money stakes.

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MarkFish added 08:28 - Jul 11 Ooh why did i not renew???? Thatll teach me 😂
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gibbo added 08:34 - Jul 11 Clubs like Leeds, Blackburn and forest who have already broken the fair play rules know that the penalty isn't that great (a transfer ban when the transfer market is closed) and will pay big money and high wages, rumour is we offered feeney 3k a week so of course he would go to Blackburn.
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wychyblue added 08:46 - Jul 11 Know for a fact from a player who shares agents with Feeney that he was offered 3k a week more at Blackburn . He isn't worth an EXTRA £150,000 + a year. Footballs gone mad !!
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Surco72 added 09:00 - Jul 11 Personally I thought AMN started the season well then MM completely changed his tactics to his negative style again asking players to not play in their natural way and AMN struggled as many have . There is no point getting wingers and then ask them to tuck in narrowly and just chase backwards and forwards with the ball going over their heads . Think he could be a really good loan for us if used well . Knudsen was not excellent he was not even good , how many goals were conceded from crosses coming in from his side , or he was beaten at the back post ? And his long throw didn't create one goal . We need better quality than last season and we havent signed it yet Staring line up Gerkin , Chambers , Smith , Berra , Knudsen Skuse, Douglas Hyam Sears , Murphy ,Pitman

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MaySixth added 09:12 - Jul 11 I'd quite like to see Maitland-Niles back, he'll be a better player and adds something that we haven't got. However, don't think he will want to come.
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cats_whiskers added 09:16 - Jul 11 Maitland Niles is certainly NOT the type to influence any match consistently, at times he looks lost! Giovani dos Santos was streets ahead with his ability in his loan period here and offered excitement when on the ball. Mark Noble was another loaned player who offered something too as his determined attitude is spot on. There is going to be more mediocre displays witnessed this coming season, and overall it's going to be fought out in the lower half of the table as a top 6 finish is nothing more than a McCarthy pipedream. (Unfortunately you just can't stop yourself from feeling so pessimistic) With possibly 5 maybe even 6 teams leapfrogging us this season because we are stagnating with McCarthy's grind out a result style and the distinct lack of any influential match winners in his squad. And with what Gary Monk is doing at Leeds Utd, they are one of those teams who will be chasing one of those promotion places at the seasons finish, than optimistic us.

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LondonBlue99 added 10:47 - Jul 11 Start of the season AMN made a real impression, that pettered out as the season went on , hopefully he could do the same this season for the whole season this time
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tractorshark added 10:58 - Jul 11 I wouldn't trade places with Leeds. They're being linked with Fraser because of the Cook deal is a bit like Mings. But Garry Monk is still relatively unproven and Cellino is barking mad. That could end up being a disaster two months into the season. As for Fraser, I'd welcome him back like a shot but, remember, he spent a lot of last season injured. We all look at him a little with rose-tinted spectacles.

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leahcar88 added 11:01 - Jul 11 AMN, I would welcome him back, he'd be bigger and stronger this year the boy definately has the ability to tear defences apart!!!! Mings love to see him back as well, and Kightly would be a sign of ambition surely.
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jas0999 added 12:37 - Jul 11 The big worry for me, is Webster aside we have the same squad as last season but with seven fewer faces. The squad last season wasn't good enough. Now we have re-signed Dibgy, and possibly AMN. Two players part of that squad which failed to deliver a play off place. AMN was, despite a promising start, very poor. He barely got picked in the end. This suggests we have no other plan and are going to continue to make do. Probably a cheap deal to do as well.

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