Forgotten man Ben Thatcher is being targeted by Southampton, according to one of this morning’s newspapers. Veteran defender Thatcher is yet to play a game under Roy Keane’s management, having suffered a knee ligament injury in the 3-2 derby victory over Norwich at the end of last season.

The Saints are reported to want to sign Thatcher on loan before the November 26th deadline, then make the deal permanent in January.

In September, Keane said Thatcher, who last season was reported to be unwilling to relocate to Suffolk, wasn’t in his plans at that point in time, going on to outline why squad members might fall out of favour with him: “Players have got to give themselves a chance, whether it’s players travelling, their attitude to training or being on time for training. That all comes into the reckoning if you want to be in my team.

“There’s lots of issues with lots of players, although generally speaking I’m delighted with the group, but there’ll always be one or two you need a bit more from.”

Last month, Thatcher, who is also yet to feature in a reserves league game, suffered a slight setback with his knee problem, but wasn’t expected to be sidelined for more than a couple of weeks.

Thatcher joined the Blues on a free transfer from Charlton in the summer of 2008, signing a two-year deal and has made 23 appearances for Town without scoring. Southampton already have one Town left-back signed on a free transfer, Dan Harding having moved to St Mary’s in the summer.

Elsewhere, Sheffield Wednesday central defender Richard Wood is understood to have held talks with Coventry City yesterday regarding a move to the Sky Blues. One report this morning claims Town are still interested in signing Wood, but he appears very much more likely to be on his way to the Ricoh Arena.

Photo: Action Images

bedsitfc added 16:32 - Nov 18 lilian - we need commited MEN in midfield yes i have seen the table and yes i am as disappointed as everyone on here but if you have watched garvan over a few years you would know that he is a talented lad but something stops him producing week in week out i would say 1 in 5 games he does well. if he comes up against someone that wont give him time on the ball he goes missing. heading, tackling and pressing are all things garvan can't do

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ITFC4EVER added 16:37 - Nov 18 welshtractorboy- the reason you play teams that are better rankings than you is because you are not very good!
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Keaneish added 17:23 - Nov 18 I'm still here. Hands up...David Wright at left back or Ben Thatcher? Whoever thinks that's a contest is deluded even if Wright is right footed. Wales a footballing force!? Why, because Ramsey showed up an abysmal Scottish side!? I'd like to see the Welsh do well and make a major tournament, but it's not going to happen any time between now and the next 8 years. You may have some decent youngsters but they need need decent experience to go with it and there isn't that currently in the team to blend. Anyway, laters Thatcher. When you're asked to move closer to the training ground, do it you chav.

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ITFC4EVER added 19:01 - Nov 18 whats so bad about chavs^^
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milliem added 10:45 - Nov 19 Ben Thatcher signed a contract when he joined Town. Presumably written into this was that he would continue to live with his family in Surrey but commute to Ipswich. Keane arrives and expects Thatcher to move to Ipswich because he wants all players to live within 20 minutes drive of the training ground. Why should he? After all Keane doesn't. Unless Keane owns the Batmobile then it's impossible to get from Aldeburgh to Rushmere in that timespan.

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jas0999 added 21:12 - Nov 19 Deary me! Yet another story and yet another reason for several fans to find a reason to slate Roy - what has he done here?! NOTHING. Thatcher was a panic signing by a certain Jim Magilton, who is over rated and on a massive salary. His performances for ITFC have been poor and 95% of fans were unhappy when he signed. Now, several idiots are moaning and slating RK for trying to offload this hapless JM signing. I ask again WHY?

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