Blues boss Mick McCarthy says striker Kieffer Moore is more likely to return to Portman Road at Christmas than continue his loan spell with Rotherham if he continues scoring goals. The 25-year-old is the top scorer in League One having hit the net 11 times in 14 starts and one sub appearance.
Along with right-back Josh Emmanuel, the former Forest Green Rovers man is on a season-long loan at the New York Stadium but with Town able to cut their spells short in January.
Millers boss Paul Warne said recently he would speak to McCarthy regarding his plans for Moore this week.
Asked whether that conversation had taken place, the Blues boss said: "My intention when I sent Kieffer out was to certainly get him games. It was unfortunate for him last year because he came into a team when we weren’t playing well, so he didn’t play well himself.
"On the back of having to come into a team that’s not exactly ripping it up, that was tough for him.
"He went away in pre-season and came back a lot fitter, he’s done really well at Rotherham. I saw him play at Wimbledon and we’ve had him watched pretty much every game. He’s scored some really good goals, gets in the box.
"So, the intention was to send him out to see whether he could get games and score goals and then we’d take a view on it. And that’s still the same.
"But, of course, the more he’s scoring goals, the view is that he’s more likely to come back here at Christmas and see whether he can replicate it in the Championship. And that’s my intention, that’s always been my intention.”
Meanwhile, McCarthy says Everton haven’t shown any frustration regarding loan defender Callum Connolly’s lack of action since joining the Blues on loan. The 20-year-old has made only two starts since joining Town on loan for the season on deadline day.
"I speak to Joe Royle, Joe would come and watch and he contacts me most weeks and asks me if he’s playing. I think he would come and see him or send somebody else,” McCarthy added.
"I’ve not had any complaints from them, I don’t leave them out of the side if they’re the standout best player, that’s for certain. But he’s done very well, he’s settled in and he’s doing really well in training.”