Boss Joe Royle says that Fabian Wilnis is likely to play more games at centre-half rather than full-back after impressing while playing the previously unfamiliar role during the early part of the season. The Blues could still be bringing in another central defender with talks continuing with former Athletic Bilbao defender Óscar Vales.

Royle told the club site that Wilnis had done fine job during Jason De Vos's absence: "Fab has had a great start to the season and has done a terrific job in the middle of the defence.

"I'm not saying he won't play at full-back again for us, but I see his best position now as a centre-back.

"There is not so much galloping up and down the pitch when you are playing in the middle. The position is more about reading the game and concentrating on defending and he has done that well."

Despite it being deadline day today, as Vales is a free agent he could still join the Blues outside the transfer window. The 30-year-old has been on trial for the last week and has impressed the Town management. Personal terms are understood to be the sticking point.

Deadline day has been quiet at Portman Road, although an Icelandic newspaper reported that the Blues watched Halmstad striker Gunnar Heidar Thorvaldsson in the Swedish club's 4-2 away UEFA Cup defeat of Linfield last week.

Thorvaldsson, 23, scored in the ninth minute of the game but appears an unlikely Town target at the present time. Capped five times by Iceland, the frontman is in contract and would cost a fee and is described as a goal poacher in the Kevin Phillips mould.

Elsewhere, former Town loan target Justin Hoyte has joined Sunderland on a year's loan from Arsenal. Another player the Blues were once interested in, keeper Mart Poom, has moved in the opposite direction on similar terms.

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