On-loan midfielder Darren Ambrose has returned to Charlton at the end of his loan spell and has not been offered a permanent deal with the Blues. Ambrose, whose Charlton contract is up in the summer, rejoined Town in November with a view to a longer term move back at the club where he was an academy player.

Boss Jim Magilton told the club site: "Darren's a good player but we have not seen the best of him.

"It's not worked out as he and we would have hoped for and with the loan over, he's now going back to Charlton."

The 24-year-old made six starts and three sub appearances during his second spell with the club.

Ambrose's exit is likely to see the Blues renew their efforts to sign a left-sided midfielder during the January transfer window. During the summer, Town came close to recruiting Southampton's Rudi Skácel, while in September FC Köln's French winger Fabrice Ehret revealed that he had twice turned down the chance to join Blues.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls