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Nouma on Trial - Ipswich Town News

French striker Pascal Nouma is on trial with the Blues and could be in the line-up which faces Osasuna this evening at Portman Road in Town's final pre-season friendly. Nouma, 32, is one of football's more colourful characters.

The Frenchman was sacked by Besiktas in Turkey last season after a goal celebration which involved him putting his hands down his shorts caused deep offence. He defended his actions saying it was merely "a private moment of joy".

However, this failed to sway his bosses who fired him. He had to serve a seven-month ban from Turkish football for the incident and ended up spending the latter part of last season with Al Khor in Qatar.

The Frenchman has a history of controversy, previously being accused of violence towards a journalist as well as urinating in public view during a training camp.

Nouma won the French Cup with Paris St Germain (1995) and the French League Cup in the same season and also in 1997 with Strasbourg and in 1999 with Lens. In addtion to those clubs, he has spent time with Lille, Caen and Olympique Marseille.

The frontman is a free agent and has already had a trial with Crystal Palace who decided against offering him a contract.

Town boss Joe Royle told the club site: "We have taken Pascal on trial for the week and we are hoping to get clearance for him to play against Osasuna.

"He's a big lad who impressed when he played against Arsenal a few years ago so we will see how he gets on."

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