Town manager Paul Jewell says he’s unlikely to sign the 25-goal-a-season striker he’s after before the end of the season. The Blues boss has said he’s looking to add to his strike force having been unhappy with his side’s recent profligacy in front of goal.

Jewell said: “I think it’s difficult to try and bring someone who has got 25 goals outside the window. If he’s scoring like that he’s not normally going to be loaned."

The Blues boss is at pains to point out that he's not just blaming his frontmen for his side's lack of a cutting edge: “I don’t want this to be an anti-striker thing because it isn’t.

"In the [first two of the] three games this week we’ve dominated possession without creating too many opportunities. On Saturday we created brilliant opportunities but didn’t take them.

“I don’t want it to be a stick to beat the strikers with because I’m saying to everyone else that if we don’t take our chances we should get a 0-0, because that’s what gets teams promoted. That’s what makes successful teams.

“When things don’t go their way or you play really well and don’t take your chances, you’ve got to make sure you don’t concede at the back. It’s an overall thing that we want the whole group to be aware that you have to be mentally tough.

“If you miss chances, don’t be frightened to miss the next one, but if we do miss chances, don’t let the opposition get cheap goals and I feel the goals we conceded against Portsmouth were cheap.”

Jewell again warned against expecting too much from Connor Wickham too soon: “You have to be careful with Connor, because he’s only scored a handful of league goals.

“He’s got a lot to learn, which is why I keep telling you guys to cool your jets on that one. In a year’s time he would probably have had a hat-trick in a game like Saturday’s.”

Elsewhere, former Town loanee Stern John is on trial at MLS side Chivas USA.

Photo: Action Images

Blandford added 17:16 - Mar 1 costadelblue. I for one would not have a problem seeing Nugent in an Ipswich shirt. Lets face it he has scored more times at Portman Road than most of the strikers that have played for us over the last decade.
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jas0999 added 20:20 - Mar 1 I suspect the club are reluctant to spend anymore this season. Bullard probably took the remainder of our budget this season.
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sirburley added 21:12 - Mar 1 why has no one mentioned Craig Mckail-smith from peterborough?He is on fire at the moment,24 goals for the season so far(i think),he also scored goals at championship level too.I think he would jump at the chance of playing for us.
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WadzillaBhoy added 00:06 - Mar 2 Kevin Phillips is 37 and only trains two days a week doubt he would last 10 mins per game, he is definatly not the answer. Cox would be a great signing.
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brian_a_mul added 08:01 - Mar 2 Murray scored x2 goals against Norwich reserves yesterday! Lets play him, the most natural finisher we have at the club!
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