Midfielder Jimmy Bullard was left out of the squad for Saturday’s home friendly against his former club West Ham as he is “out of the equation”, according to assistant manager Chris Hutchings. Reports on Sunday claimed the Blues were looking to offload the 33-year-old, who failed to make a first team appearance during two years at Upton Park at the start of his career.
Bullard, who has a year remaining on his contract, was spotted at Portman Road before the game but wasn’t included in the 21-man squad with Hutchings explaining afterwards: "He’s just out of the equation at this moment in time.”
Asked whether there was anything more to it with rumours regarding Bullard’s exit, including claims of a possible switch to China, having been circulating over the summer, the assistant manager added: "There’s always rumours about everything, about players that we’re linked with and so on.”
Bullard's last league start for Town came last November in the 4-0 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor.