Town boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that the Blues are taking up an option for a further year on young midfielder Adam McDonnell’s contract and will be offering the 18-year-old Irishman a new deal.
"There is an option, we’re offering him another contract, but we’ll take the option up, whatever,” McCarthy said.
McDonnell, whose only first-team game so far came from the start in the 4-1 win at Doncaster in the Capital One Cup in August, joined Town from Dublin side Shelbourne in the summer of 2014.
The Irish U18 international, who was prevented from playing competitive football by FIFA red tape during his first season at Portman Road, was on the bench at Sheffield Wednesday last week and could be the fringe player McCarthy says he’s considering playing at Middlesbrough on Saturday.