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Another Norwegian Linked - Ipswich Town News

Town have been linked with Norwegian striker Thorstein Helstad from Brann Bergen. Apparently Town scouts watched the striker play against Stromsgodset on Wednesday (the same night as they are also reported to have watched Magne Hoseth play elsewhere in Norway) and if they were there they couldn't have failed to be impressed.

Helstad scored five goals as Brann won 6-2. He is a 24-year-old striker who has played six times for Norway. His previous clubs are fantastically listed as Fart and Ham Kam (who I am certainly going to look up).

Brann are apparently cash-strapped and would probably look to offload the player. Up to the Stromsgodset game Helstad had failed to score all season and his manager Teitur Thordarson was under pressure to drop him. Don't think he will now.

Town's reserves will attempt to regain some lost credibility when they face Nottingham Forest this afternoon. The second string have received a rollocking of the most ferocious nature from Dale Roberts after a pitiful defensive display during the 6-3 home defeat to Charlton on Wednesday.

This afternoon's side is likely to show several changes with Mark Burchill, Richard Naylor and Gary Croft all left out. Wayne Brown will play despite receiving a minor knock on Wednesday.

Town are also likely to face two old boys in Tony Vaughan and Marlon Harewood. Vaughan is currently on the transfer list after receiving a red card for stamping on Crewe goalkeeper, and mate of the North Stand, Ademole Bankole. Harewood is most remembered by Town fans for a miss of outstanding ineptitude. With the ball trickiling towards an empty net the loanee thought it needed just that extra touch and deflected the ball on to the post.

Squad: Salmon, Pullen, Artun, Karic, Miller, Brown, Moffat, Nicholls, Mayes, Snowdon, Friars, Abidallah and Logan.

Wayne Brown is behind the QPR/Wimbledon merger, which we hope ends with a new team called Queen's Park Wombles. The Town defender spent a short period on loan at Loftus Road towards the end of the season and coincidentally was linked with a move to Wimbledon earlier in the season.

Brown said: "I'm not sure how the two sets of supporters will take to it but it could be a good thing for both clubs. Rangers have a terrific fanbase while Wimbledon don't have as many, travelling to Selhurst Park has not been ideal. On the playing side Rangers squad clearly wasn't good enough for Division One, although there are some players who could do well."

He cited Peter Crouch and Marcus Bignot amongst these and said that from his brief period under his charge he felt that Ian Holloway was a good manager.

Today's Do You Remember? is former fireman and Seaham Red Star player Nigel Gleghorn. Nigel was a popular midfielder in the mid-eighties, but how do you rate him now? Click the link on the Message Board: http://www.thesearethedays.co.uk/messages

class="storytext">There is also an article on the site about Bontcho's cafe in London. Go to http://www.thesearethedays.co.uk and look at the features menu at the bottom.

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