Town are one of a number of clubs targeting the loan signing of Manchester United striker Alan Smith. The Blues seem unlikely to succeed in their bid with Cardiff City and Smith's former club Leeds United leafing the chase.

Boss Jim Magilton has phoned Sir Alex Ferguson to make his interest known, while Simon Walton, a colleague of Smith's at Leeds, will be giving the England striker a call to try to persuade him in the direction of Portman Road.

Magilton said: "That would be an amazing coup if we could get Alan. We know it is difficult but we are trying our hardest and if Simon can help with a call then even better."

Sir Alex Ferguson said yesterday that Smith had already held talks with Cardiff: "The fact we are no longer in the Carling Cup, I thought a short-term loan would be ideal.

"I think he has spoken to someone at Cardiff but he is not certain about whether to take it or not.

"He really needs football and reserve team football is really for the youth team and doesn't present the right challenge for an experienced player like Alan."

Cardiff's interest alerted Leeds with new manager Dennis Wise saying: "We have only just found out about his availability, but there's a possibility of a deal."

Meanwhile, defender James Krause will spend time on trial with Carlisle ahead of a proposed loan move.

Cork City midfielder George O'Callaghan will continue his trial with Town having recovered from a bout of shingles which recently saw him spend two days in hospital. O'Callaghan, whose illness was wrongly reported to be meningitis, looked set to join the Blues on loan in January prior to his ill health.

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