Stoke City are reported to have turned down Town loan bids for central defenders Danny Higginbotham and Leon Cort. Potters boss Tony Pulis is said to want the duo to remain at the Britannia Stadium as cover.

Higginbotham, 30, was linked with the Blues in the summer but dismissed the claims, saying he wanted to remain at Stoke.

Town manager Roy Keane will know Higginbotham well, the Mancunian defender having been at Manchester United during the Blues boss’s time at Old Trafford and having played for him at Sunderland prior to his move to Stoke in 2008.

Higginbotham, who has made five Premier League appearances this season, has also played for Royal Antwerp (loan), Derby and Southampton.

Cort, also 30, is yet to play in the Premier League for Stoke this season. The Southwark-born defender joined the Potters from Crystal Palace for £1.2 million in January 2008.

Prior to that Cort, the younger brother of former Wimbledon and Newcastle frontman Carl, was with Dulwich Hamlet, Millwall, Forest Green Rovers (loan), Stevenage Borough (loan), Southend United and Hull City.

Keane is looking to add two loan players to his squad with a central defender appearing a priority with Gareth McAuley likely to be out for a fortnight.

Meanwhile, centre-half Pim Balkestein, who is currently out of the first team, picked up a wrist injury in yesterday's reserve game against Norwich but says it's unlikely to be a big problem: “I'm off to have a scan on my wrist, but I don't think it's serious.

“Their lad [Owain Tudor-Jones] stood on my wrist, so it hurts a bit. And then I should have scored as well. I'm annoyed to miss that one."

Photo: Action Images

goldenblueboy added 13:43 - Oct 29 Beckford is at least a Chamionship player. He would be an amazing signing for us. But unfortunately can't really see it happening.
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itfcboi added 13:49 - Oct 29 By Shrewed move I meant it in the eyes of Stoke not letting them go. This is exactly what is wrong with this club. 2 many people worrying about spelling, grammer and not da fact we R bottom of da table. Any way, why is it so many people who aren't on half term, like myself, (YES 4 all U people at work I have 2 pleasent weeks off 2 ponder our fate of relegation or a bottom of da table scrap) have so much workin time 2 spend on here. unless u r all post men?

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tractorboybig added 13:55 - Oct 29 I have a red hot tip that woods at shef wed has declined a new contract and will be transfer listed tomorrow. Keen was interested in him before the transfer window closed.
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Surco72 added 13:56 - Oct 29 Wood is a good solid defender at championship level ,hopefully this is true . As for Beckford a good player but only at League One level ,whenever anyone questions Rhodes sale we are hit with "he is only scoring goals at a lower level ",well Beckford only has one more than Rhodes !! and was quoted as costing over 3 million in summer
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superblueflude added 13:56 - Oct 29 Tractirboybig - thanks but we already know look up! lol.thanks though.
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superblueflude added 13:58 - Oct 29 Surco - did think about that - what would you all think about spending a bit of money to try and buy andy carroll?
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WickedBlue added 14:04 - Oct 29 itfcboi would help if you came across as knowing what you were talking about but you don't. If you did you would know Ipswich doesn't panic never has never will do, you would also know it takes time to bulid a new team. Is anybody satisfied being atthe bottom ofthe league? No of course not, but most don't panic and most don't see us there at the end of the season. You are one of those suppoerters who believed all the hype that we were going to get promoted in his first season because he did it at Sunderland. Yet ME gave him a two year contract not one. Life doesn't follow your wishes, he is building that always takes time, as for him being abusive where is your proof? You have none the players have all stated that and are backing the manager. Stop making crap up to try and make your arguements it never works and makes you look like a tw@t.

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Surco72 added 14:29 - Oct 29 good shout superflude would compliment counago or priskin strong in the air ,holds the ball up well and scores . Didnt Jim try to sign him last year ?
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matt_the_blue added 15:26 - Oct 29 itfcboi - I'm sure spelling is not the prime topic of conversation here, but unfortunately when I read your posts I'm not sure if you're contributing to the discussions or submitting a budget report due to the amount of numerical abbreviations you use! You say Keane has had too long to change things but he's only had 14 games this season. Yes we're in a position that is unacceptable to any Town fan but sacking Keane now would be nothing short of guaranteeing League One football next season. As many before me have pointed out the reasons being that A) We're not in a good position to attract a manager who could get us out of this mire and B) by the time any new manager settles in we could be at Christmas and beyond which by then it WILL be too late. And before you accusing me of being simply an 'applause' fan as you have done to somebody else on this item - I'm an SBR stand season ticket holder who is the complete opposite as anyone who knows me will tell you. Due to a family party in Cornwall I won't be able to make the Derby match but I'll be back for the Sheff Weds game singing my heart out! COYB!

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UEFA81 added 16:49 - Oct 29 Legend wrote "Keane is a honest straight talking bloke that does not try to please or offend anyone. " I don't think Mick McCarthy would see it that way.
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FormerlyCGS added 18:24 - Oct 29 ITFCBOI - you right, why would any manager want to send a decent player to Keane? The only players I can imagin us getting are players currently havig a rift or out of favour with there manager - i.e Richard Wood, cant say I have seen him play too often but I would certainly gaurantee he is betteer than our current centre backs!
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SitfcB added 18:33 - Oct 29 Legend.........Well said!! KEANO'S BARMY ARMY!!! itfcboi.......Do they give you homework for half-term holiday's???
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jas0999 added 19:11 - Oct 29 Can't believe some people are even moaning about Roy because another manager decides to hold on to his own players! Yet, like many I am bored of reading who we are not going to sign!
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nobbyclark added 21:09 - Oct 29 IMO he has to look for players in the Championship. Why on earth would prem players want to go to a club bottom of the championship????
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UEFA81 added 22:17 - Oct 29 Perhaps he should look for players in league 1 or below.
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tommyblue added 22:40 - Oct 29 sign marlon king.........ooh sorry hes been sent down
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FormerlyCGS added 00:41 - Oct 30 I hope Marlon King never plays football again!
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matt_the_blue added 13:19 - Oct 30 CGS - For once I agree with you! But if somebody like Joey Barton can stay in football, sadly I think King will get a club when he gets out...
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