TWTD understands that Town will look to sign Linfield keeper Alan Mannus in the summer. The 25-year-old Canadian-born Northern Ireland international is rated as the top keeper in the Irish Premier League and has been watched by the Blues on a number of occasions in recent months.

Mannus came through the youth system at Linfield and, after spells on loan at Larne and Carrick Rangers, established himself in the Belfast side's first team in 2002 and has now made almost 300 senior appearances.

Born in Toronto, but brought up in Carryduff, Mannus has won three full international caps, the most recent as a sub in the victory over Georgia last month, in addition to playing for Northern Ireland's U23s, U18s, U16s and also an Irish League representative side.

In 2003 the man nicknamed Tino scored a goal from open play in a game against Omagh Town, a long clearance bouncing awkwardly over the opposition keeper and into the net.

Mannus recently said that he is keen to try his luck in English or Scottish football: "I would love to give it a go, playing across the water.

"For somebody in the Irish League, if they want to push for a place in the Northern Ireland squad, they have to be playing full-time football in England or Scotland.

"If the opportunity comes up, I would definitely like to have a go. But for the time being, I have to stay focused on what I'm doing at Linfield.

"I've got another year left on my contract, so I'm going to be here another while anyway. We'll see what happens."

It would be no surprise if the Blues were to sign a new keeper over the summer with Stephen Bywater only on loan from Derby and Nick Colgan on a short-term contract. Shane Supple will return from Falkirk in the summer and may well find himself vying with Mannus for the Town number one shirt next season.

Elsewhere, former Town keeper Andy Marshall, now 32, has signed a new one-year deal with Coventry City.

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