Former Blue James Scowcroft is set to re-sign on loan for the rest of the season as cover for the injured Shefki Kuqi. TWTD reported last week that the Bury-based player was keen to return to Portman Road in the summer and the Finn's absence has speeded up his exit from the Walkers Stadium.

Rumours regarding Scowcroft's imminent signing surfaced on the TWTD Message Board on Sunday and manager Joe Royle has confirmed that he has landed a player he had been targeting since his days as Manchester City manager: "With Shefki's injury worse than we first thought, we knew we had to bring in someone and I spoke to Craig Levein after Saturday's game and realised there was a possibility of getting James.

"We spoke again on Sunday and he has allowed James to join us and the player has agreed and will train with the squad and be with us until the end of the season."

Scowcroft's contract with Leicester is up at the end of June and it is likely that he'll sign permanently for Town in the summer. The striker or midfielder was in the Leicester side which lost 2-1 to Town on Saturday.

Kuqi received a studmark to the leg from Dion Dublin during the win and was initially expected to be out of action for up to a month. However, later assessments suggest Town's top scorer could be on the sidelines for at least four weeks and probably a bit longer.

Scowcroft, 29, left Portman Road in the summer of 2001 to join the Foxes for £3.5 million. In his first spell at Portman Road he made 248 appearances and scored 55 goals, having progressed through the youth ranks. He made his debut against Wolves in 1995.

Joe Royle has long been an admirer of Scowcroft, making an enquiry about him when Manchester City manager and again last summer.

At that time Scowcroft was in then Leicester manager Micky Adams's plans, however, new man Craig Levein seems less inclined to use the former England U21 in his preferred striking role, as was evident on Saturday when Mark De Vries was up front and Scowcroft at an unfamiliar left midfield role.

The striker was warmly welcomed back to Portman Road by the Town faithful on Saturday and is likely to prove a popular signing.

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