Town boss Paul Jewell could have Gareth McAuley and Connor Wickham back in his side when the Blues travel to Leicester for their final game of the season on Saturday (KO 12.45pm). The match looks set to be Blues captain David Norris’s last for Town with the midfielder understood to have decided to leave the club in the summer when his contract is up.

Jewell says one-time Leicester man McAuley and Wickham are closing in on returns after their groin and rib problems: “Gareth McAuley is going to train this morning and we’ll see how Connor is, he may train.

"We had a few injuries last week and it showed that when we get a few injuries to key players, we are stretched.

“As I’ve mentioned before, it’s not just a game of 11, it’s about 21 or 22 players who can come in and not weaken the team.”

While Jewell says no developments are likely on the contract situations involving McAuley and skipper David Norris until next week, Norris is believed to have decided to leave the Blues on a free Bosman transfer in the summer having failed to agree new terms at Portman Road.

The midfielder, Town’s Players’ Player of the Year this season, is understood to have three or four clubs chasing him with Wigan Athletic now his most reported destination, despite Portsmouth previously having been seen as the favourites for his signature. Nottingham Forest and Leeds have also long been mentioned in connection with the 30-year-old.

Norris turned down a new deal with the Blues before Christmas and negotiations have continued more recently with the Peterborough-born player wanting a three-year contract rather than the two additional seasons being offered by Town.

McAuley may also be involved in his last match for the club with Rangers strongly tipped to sign the Northern Irishman in the summer.

Elsewhere, Sunderland have again been linked with Town striker Connor Wickham, who was reported to be a Newcastle target yesterday.

Photo: Action Images

village_blue added 12:35 - May 5 I would not give Norris the 3 year deal he''s after because he's already been here nearly 3 years and we have yet to have a full season out of him.He's quite injury prone and often suspended, although I agree with some coments he always gives 100% effoprt.
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asamink added 12:36 - May 5 Aren't opinions great. I'm mental (thanks big foot blue). I think he is overrated and never lived up to the price tag / wages. Yes he scored a few goals, yes he is better then Leadbitter. Stick him on the bench. I won't miss him.
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debenhamsteve added 12:39 - May 5 Let's just wait to see what actually happens. Rumours are rife but not always reliable. I would like Norris to stay, however I agree with people's view of his effectiveness especially when it comes to killer passes and general creativity. He has only had 2 assists all season. His goals to shots ratio is excellent however. Compare this to Grant Shootbetter! Site below has interesting statistics. http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/Shooting/0,,10794~201010272~7,00.html

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martleshamitfc added 12:49 - May 5 I agree with Big_Foot_Blue - Norris is our Captain, scores goals from midfield and I believe we will miss him. He won't be cheap to replace and then we hope the new players settles into the team quickly. I would rather see him stay, but then again if he is moving on, then do not see the point of playing him this weekend, pick Healey or Drury who will be at PR next season.

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GeorgiDoundarov added 12:55 - May 5 Everybody is saying "Norris is an average player"! That maybe true but the thing is - if we cannot attract average players who is going to replace him. I doubt that PJ will get Frank Lampard... What he got is Andy Drury and he is way behind Norris. So if Norris is leaving and God forbid MacAuley we will have big problems. Instead of filling the huge gaps we already have in the team PJ will have to work around even more gaps... Doesn't look very rosie for me. I just can't believe that PJ will manage to find not only 2 quality strikers and a holding midfielder and a right back, but now also replacement for Norris and eventually for MacAuley... Hope I am wrong!

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daniel2302 added 13:10 - May 5 good luck in the future, thanks for what you have done town star.
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Brazils_Bathrobe added 13:13 - May 5 Not overly sad to see Norris go. I dont think he will be that difficult to replace. Can't understand why he would be played on Saturday, let alone Captain the side. Nothing to gain or lose so play some of the youngsters and give them the experience.
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TimmyH added 13:16 - May 5 Yeah McAuley will be a bigger loss - lets face it I reckon we'll be without Norris, McAuley and Bullard next season and on the face of it 3 of the more consistent performers. We're 3 steps back before next season has already started! I'd like to be really optimistic but I still reckon we'll be a mid-table team next year.
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TimmyH added 13:23 - May 5 Yeah McAuley will be a bigger loss - lets face it I reckon we'll be without Norris, McAuley and Bullard next season and on the face of it 3 of the more consistent performers. We're 3 steps back before next season has already started! I'd like to be really optimistic but I still reckon we'll be a mid-table team next year.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 13:29 - May 5 PJ obviously believes in winning football matches whether or not certain players will be leaving the club pretty soon after the final whistle. If you think about it, that's not such a bad attitude, even if myself, I would be inclined to play the yoofs for the sake of experience. Anyway, trust PJ!
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Lightningboy added 13:30 - May 5 Re Norris..great engine but that's about it really..only shown his eye for goal this season..will be missed but i'm sure that like in so many areas of our team PJ will bring in better next season. Wigan though?..bet he doesn't go there if they get relegated.
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RYITFC added 13:34 - May 5 Ive heard Stockport's nice this time of year. Cya Chuck.
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Matteo_Sereni added 13:59 - May 5 lets be honest...we need both of them given our current squad! To replace them both is going to cost around 3m.
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gypo added 14:25 - May 5 well if it is true and he`s leaving why pick him for saturday give peters a game.
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Essexblue78 added 14:33 - May 5 Interesting that this season is not yet over and there has been no public confirmation of who is going and who is staying, yet some have already consigned ITFC to midtable at best , next season! Hopefully everyone who posts on here wants ITFC to succeed, sometimes it does not seem that way, and of course, there will always be differences of opinions over players abilities, skills , contributions and value BUT lets have a reality check- the current playing staff have collectively under achieved and individually who has been so consistent week in week out over the last few seasons as to make anyone plead for him to stay? I say no one at all. Has ITFC actually made any real forward progress since JM was dismissed? Sadly not. We have flattered to deceive on occasions but honestly how many edge of the seat moments can you recall, sadly very very few. Will the old Ipswich ever return? I woud argue not with that current staff-so if for whatever reason McCauley or Norris or Wickham or whoever leaves will those departures truthfully be a tearful loss? I think not. But if 12 months from now PJs rebuilding re-motivating plans have failed to come to fruition then there will be time for tears. Having watched ITFC since the late 50s I do believe we have just suffered the two worst seasons of mediocre football in all that time and so now the rescue act must start properly earnestly and carefully..Marcus Evans and Paul Jewell can you do it?

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Hungry_Badger added 14:44 - May 5 G Mac is far more important than Norris, and to be fair i only think Chuck is getting in the team because he's captain and i think Andy Dury is- technically a better play than him.
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Karlosfandangal added 15:21 - May 5 Have a feeling that Jewell knew Norris would not stay after this season thats why he brought Drury, Feel Norris should play and should be thanked for his service to the club from the fans, he has always given 100% and is our captain, Feel we can replace Norris as I think he is an average player and feel McAuley is also an average player and fel we can find a replacement. Its time to find players who are well above average now if we are to move forward

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cobbold_fanatic added 15:31 - May 5 Good bye norris you won't really be missed
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DiamondGezzer added 15:52 - May 5 As somebody already pointed out, it would appear the heart of the team might soon disappear and all we hear is they won't be missed. Take away Norris's goals and the times Mac has gotten us out of trouble and some say they won't be missed, sometimes I dispair !
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alfromcol added 16:19 - May 5 Without doubt both Norris and Mac are good enough to be in an Ipswich 'promotion push' squad for next season, the sad thing is if they go we get no funds in but have to spend a sum of money on replacements. Money that would be better spent on other areas of the squad that are weaker than the positions taken by Norris and Mac. Let's all hope that PJ knows what he is doing and gets some quality into the squad before the start of next season. The retention of Bullard is a key to a good start to the season.

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tractorboynick added 16:26 - May 5 Personally I would not play ANY of the players out of contract or those ones who are either leaving or said to be going. Bring in those fringe players instead or the youngsters and give them a game McAuley and Norris are going so don't play them please
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robdaful added 16:38 - May 5 Bye Norris and Bye Wickham we are going to rob a club for £10m in the summer
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TimmyH added 16:39 - May 5 @essexblue - come on mate, hardly rocket science though, if all 3 of those fore mentioned players aren't playing for us next season then that is the heart of the team out. It will take some management skills and the ability to get some descent players in just to replace them if we are going to push towards the play-offs next season.
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jas0999 added 17:24 - May 5 Shocking. It's irrelevant whether people think Norris is a good,average or bad player. The fact is he's the club's captain and deemed to be good enough by our past three managers. We spent £2.5M+ on him. To let him leave on a free is rank bad management and the club/Clegg are at fault. Ditto if McAuley leaves. Contracts should have been offered LAST summer and if the players didn't want to sign they should have been sold. Eventually contracts were offered too late, rejected, but rather than negotiating, according to McAuley and Delaney the club refused to speak to them, leaving it until 5 weeks before the end of the season - when other clubs had already had a chance to offer them terms! You couldn't make it up! Clegg is hopeless. Good luck to both players - if the club really wanted them this would have been sorted 6 or 7 months ago. Now we are faced with losing £3.6M+ of players (based on their fees) for nothing. Criminal. BTW - the players who do sign contracts - does this mean no one else wants them? If so what does that say about us?!

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Bill_Hicks added 17:26 - May 5 Jewelio must be chuffed to bits Norris wants off...not an ITFC club captain, very ordinary player; ok but far from great and we need more than he is equipped with....
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