TWTD understands that Southampton midfielder Simon Gillett is amongst Town boss Roy Keane’s summer targets. The 24-year-old is out of contract at St Mary’s at the end of the season and is set to leave the League One club with former loan side Doncaster Rovers and the Blues leading the chase.
Gillett has been out of Alan Pardew’s plans with the Saints this season and has made only one Carling Cup start and five sub appearances, including the FA Cup tie against Town.
In October he joined Doncaster on loan, making 10 starts and one sub appearance, with the move almost becoming permanent in January. The switch, which would have seen Brian Stock move in the opposite direction, fell through at the last minute with personal terms already agreed. We understand Doncaster still want him to return to the Keepmoat Stadium.
Gillett has been with Southampton since his days as an academy trainee, but in addition to his time with Doncaster, has had loan spells at Yeovil, Blackpool (twice), Bournemouth and Walsall.
The Southampton official site says the 5ft 7in tall midfielder isn’t hampered by his lack of height: "He may not be the tallest player on the park but makes up for it with his lower-body strength, work-rate and undoubted ability on the ball.
"His ability to get forward and defend makes him well suited to a midfield berth - as well as his set-piece skills - but his versatility has also proven an asset for the second string where he has turned in some excellent displays at full-back.”
Gillett, who usually operates in the centre of midfield, won a League One play-off final winner’s medal with Blackpool in 2007 and a Johnstone’s Paints Trophy winner’s medal earlier this season when he came on as a sub in the final.
On Friday Town boss Roy Keane said he was targeting "one or two players whose contracts are up” this summer. Gillett fits that bill and may be viewed as a direct replacement for Jack Colback, who will return to Sunderland when his loan is up at the end of the season.