On-loan defender Danny Higginbotham will not now be extending his stay with the Blues after interest from another club, manager Mick McCarthy has revealed. The 34-year-old Stoke centre-half had been on the verge of extending his time with the Blues until the end of the season.
McCarthy says that the agreement was on the proviso that another offer closer to Higginbotham's home and where he might play more regularly wasn't on the table: "That was on the basis that it ended on the 29th and that if something better for him, geographically and where he’d be playing, came in, he’d go with my blessing as he’s done well for me. There’s nothing that I can do about that because he’s on loan."
The Town boss, who confirmed that he will be looking for a replacement, says the other club have offered a loan with a view to a permanent deal: "There’s a potential loan with a view to a contract for another 12 months.”
McCarthy has no new injuries ahead of the New Year's Day game at home to Brighton and may well stick with the same XI for the sixth game running.