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Stoke Won't Stand in Higginbotham's Way - Ipswich Town News

Stoke boss Tony Pulis says he won’t stand in Danny Higginbotham’s way if the loanee wants to extend his stay at Portman Road. The 33-year-old centre-half is with Town for an initial month but has said he would be open to a longer term move.

Pulis says Higginbotham has played a big part in the Potters establishing themselves in the Premier League but accepts that it may be time for him to move on: "He's a great lad, a great ambassador for this club and one of the bedrocks it has been built on.

"But I understand his wish to be playing, especially at this stage of his career, so if I can help him I certainly will.

"We should never forget the contribution made by Danny, both on and off the field, and I certainly won't."

Higginbotham, who wasn’t named in Stoke’s 25-man Premier League squad for the first half of the season, has made an important contribution as the Blues have gained two important away points in his first two starts, having made his debut as a late sub in the defeat to Charlton.

Speaking shortly after joining the Blues, the former Manchester United trainee said he’d be interested in staying at Portman Road beyond a month: "We have to see how things go but if the opportunity was there to extend the loan then I’d definitely look at it.”

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