Boss Jim Magilton says he wants Middlesbrough defender Matt Bates to return to the club on a season-long loan. Bates joined the Blues in November and was due to spend the rest of 2006/07 at Portman Road until he damaged medial and cruciate ligaments in his second game, Town's 1-0 defeat at Barnsley.

Magilton says he has continued to keep tabs on the 20-year-old: “Matt Bates is one I really like and we have kept in contact with him. If he comes through the pre-season fit and well and it is on, then we would have him back in the building.”

Bates was used as a right-back during his earlier spell with the Blues, but with David Wright having been signed in January, the England U19 and U20 international may be viewed primarily as a centre-back should he return to Portman Road.

Magilton says he could utilise the loan market on further occasions throughout the new season, as he did during his first year in charge.

Meanwhile, former Blue Tommy Miller is again being linked with a return to Town, this time by the press in the North-East. The midfielder is available on a free transfer having been released by Sunderland.

Miller, 28, was targeted by both Joe Royle and his successor Jim Magilton last summer and the former Hartlepool man was close to rejoining the Blues on loan in November. That move fell through at the last moment with Town ending their interest after Lewis Price and Shane Supple both suffered injuries and Mike Pollitt came in from Wigan on loan.

Pollitt became Town's fifth loanee and Magilton decided to abandon the Miller loan deal. With five the limit on the number of loanees which can be named in a match 16, the Town manager felt the Sunderland man would rarely play, a decision which angered Black Cats boss Roy Keane.

Magilton's continued interest in Miller may suggest that one of his central midfielders might be on their way out of the club over the summer with Gavin Williams appearing the most likely to be allowed to leave.

Back in January, Magilton made the Welshman available in the wake of the unauthorised Amsterdam trip, although subsequently the Town boss has said Williams is in his plans and the player has stated his intention to remain at Portman Road.

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