Boss Jim Magilton has confirmed that Town prevented midfielder Veliche Shumulikoski from joining Preston North End on loan last week. The Blues manager says he will not be allowing the 27-year-old, who is also interesting Watford and QPR, to join sides in the play-off race.

On Saturday Shumulikoski revealed his anger at not being allowed to join the Lilywhites and Magilton says he has some sympathy with the Macedonian international: "I have been in Shumi's position as a player myself and I know exactly how he is feeling.

"He wants to play football. He is worried about his position with his national team if he is not playing games and I know the Macedonia manager is in constant touch with him to find out his situation.

"We have had two or three chats and I've told him that if the right club comes along for him on loan and he wants to go and play games, then we will look at it. What we won't do though is loan him to a club that is in the running for a play-off place. That would be crazy on our part.

"Preston came in for him last week and he wanted to go there. I can fully understand why and I admire his passion for wanting to play football matches, but it's not going to happen there. He's frustrated and, like I said, I've been there, I can sympathise with him, but I've told him why we can't let him go and he will get on with it.

"If another club comes in for him that suits us and suits Shumi then we will see what we can do, but he remains a very important member of our squad and he will be in contention for a place in the 16 on Tuesday just like everyone else here."

Watford revealed over the weekend that they and the Blues were discussing a possible loan swap deal involving Shumulikoski, but Magilton says this now won't happen: "We had a few injury concerns last week but they have cleared up so it's not something we are looking to explore further."

Earlier in the season, Town were linked with Hornets defender Adrian Mariappa, a right-back or centre-half, and with Moritz Volz set to undergo groin surgery tomorrow and out for a month, and David Wright suffering with an ankle injury last week, the 22-year-old may well have been the man interesting the Blues.

Meanwhile, new loan signing Giovani Dos Santos has thanked fans for his welcome when he came on as a sub at Reading on Saturday: "I had a great reception from the fans. They made me feel very happy when they cheered my name.

"Now I'm looking forward to playing at home on Tuesday with a big crowd there. I thought the team played very well against Reading. I think we have a good coach here, good players and we can do well over the rest of the season.

"I know Ipswich has a good history, was in the Premier League and is trying to get back in the Premier League. We are trying to get in the play-offs and that is why I am here, to try and help Ipswich finish in the top six positions.

"The football in England is very physical but I have joined a team like Ipswich that likes to pass the ball around. That is very important for me, to play for a team that plays that way because it is my game. Some teams in England play the long ball. That is no good for me. But at Ipswich, they pass, pass, pass."

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