Leicester manager Peter Taylor has said he sees James Scowcroft as the man to fill the boots vacated by Stan Collymore. Fortunately he doesn't mean that Scowcroft has to go around letting off fire extinguishers, just that he should play with his back to the goal.
Taylor said: "I know all about James's qualities from working with him at under-21 level and I'm pleased to have the opportunity to work with him again. When I first came to the club 12 months ago we had Stan Collymore and I was always trying to build a lot of the team around his qualities. Everyone knows how that ended so then I was always after the type of player who was good with his back to goal that can be clever enough to go into midfield - and that's how I've always seen James. He was played wide right at times at Ipswich which I know he feels is not his best position and if you give him the chance he would prefer to play down the middle as one of the centre-forwards. That's what I am offering him so I am very confident he is going to come here and do well for us. He is going to be a very good team player and I think the other players will enjoy playing with him."
Scowcroft himself said: "I had several discussions with George Burley in the summer and found he might be keen to sell me and I was aware of Leicester's interest. The fact I was not guaranteed first team football was not a reason for leaving and I'm sure the manager won't guarantee me first team football at Leicester. It's up to me to stake a claim. But if one club wants to sell you and another wants to buy you, then it's best to move on. I think it was a case of if the right offer came in, good for the club and myself, then George Burley would consider it. We parted on good terms. I've got a lot to thank him for and a lot of people at Ipswich to thank for my development in getting as far as I did. I've got some happy memories of the club but I've moved on now. The fact Ipswich are in Europe was something to think about but I had to think about my own career more than anything else. I've worked with Peter Taylor before and he is one of the best coaches I've ever worked with. That was a big factor for coming here."
Scowcroft's fee is thought to be £3.5 million and he will play some part in Leicester's friendly with Stoke this evening.