Town loan midfielder Keith Andrews says he’d like to make a permanent move away from Blackburn Rovers during the January transfer window as he looks to seal his place in the Republic of Ireland Euro 2012 squad. Andrews has enjoyed his half-season loan with the Blues but doesn’t rule out a move elsewhere.
The 31-year-old says he needs to be playing football during the second half of the season: "The bigger picture is that, hopefully, I have a European Championship to look forward to with Ireland and so it's important that I get out and play between January and the summer.
"I have certainly felt the benefit of playing so many games with Ipswich. They have indicated they would like to do something permanent and I certainly want a permanent move, whether it is to Ipswich or not, I am not sure what is going to be done. I have enjoyed my time at Ipswich. They have been very good to me."
Andrews wasn't happy at Ewood Park under Steve Kean’s management, feeling that he was swayed by public opinion: "My face probably didn't fit entirely when I was there, for whatever reason, but when the manager is not playing you because of fans, then it becomes an issue.
"The fans were not an issue for me because I couldn't give two hoots what they're saying. But I was told at one stage last season that I was being left out because of the fans and so really, the writing was on the wall from that point. I was told that by the present manager."
He doesn’t think he’ll feature for Rovers again: "I just think my time there is done. A lot of things have gone on behind the scenes. I was not happy with the way certain things happened and the way I was treated towards the end. My loan is up in January and I have no desire whatsoever to go back to Blackburn. I really, really don't want to go back there but I am under contract for another two years so we will have to wait and see what happens in January."
Meanwhile, Irish reports say Andrews was close to missing the second leg of the Republic’s Euro 2012 play-off against Estonia having broken his nose in the first match, presumably meaning his involvement for the Blues at Nottingham Forest could also potentially be in doubt.