Blues boss Paul Jewell says Town are still “in the mix fighting” to sign loanee midfielder Keith Andrews on a permanent basis. The Irish international’s loan spell is up after Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Hull, a game the Blackburn man will miss due to his hamstring injury.
Jewell says talks continue but with other parties also after the 31-year-old’s signature: "I spoke to Keith’s agent on Wednesday about trying to do a deal for him to come here, I think he was also meeting with a couple of Premier League teams.
"I think we’re still in the mix fighting there. We’d like to bring him in here and I think Keith would quite like to come, but when you’re up against a couple of Premier League teams it’s always difficult, but we’re in there fighting.”
The Blues boss says Andrews needs to be playing first team football if he is to cement his place in Ireland’s Euro 2012 squad, something which may be more likely at a Championship club such as Town rather than in the Premier League.
"He needs to play regularly with the European Championships coming up and he enjoyed his time here,” said Jewell. "There are a lot of pluses on our side, but obviously if a Premier League team comes in and offers him a great package he has to consider that.”
Once Andrews’s loan is up, Blackburn want him back to Ewood Park and, having appeared to be ready to wash their hands of him when they sent him out on loan to the Blues in August, are now understood to be keen to get him back involved in their first team. The player himself is less in favour of a return to the blue and white halves and wants a move away from the Lancashire club as soon as one can be organised.
For that to happen, Jewell says the clubs interested in signing him need illumination regarding the terms on which the one-time MK Dons man is available: "First and foremost he’s still a Blackburn player and he’s still contracted to them for another year [after this season].
"In a way, the ball is in Blackburn’s court because the agent keeps telling me he’s a free, then they might want some money for him. We’ll need to clarify that situation first. I know Marcus spoke to his agent at length yesterday.”
Meanwhile, the Ipswich boss has confirmed that Shane O’Connor, who joined League Two Southend on trial earlier in the week, will not be offered a new contract when his current terms are up at the end of the season.
Jewell says he watched O’Connor and recently released midfielder Jamie Griffiths in action for the Shrimpers and Colchester respectively in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Wednesday with the Roots Hall club yet to give any indication of their intentions regarding the Irish U21 international: "Whether they’re going to take him, I don’t know.
"It’s just an opportunity for the lad because I’ve told him he needs to go and play somewhere. He’s not going to be offered another contract here.”
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