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

Bobby_Petta added 17:42 - May 5 Agree with most posts, whats the point of playing out of contract players for a nothing game. As for Norris he is average, can't fault his work rate always gives 110%, when he first came to the club, people were comparing him to Matt Holland, sorry but no where near as good, we paid well over the odds for him. Paul Jewell will play a more passing game, something that has been missing for some seasons, would like to see Bullard stay but fear he will go to QPR.

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AndyUK61873 added 17:50 - May 5 A lot of excellent points, and when you read through the comments, most people want this guy to stay and that guy to stay, when you look at it all, seems want the team to stay in tact and that has not got us anywhere in the last 2 years. I get everyone is conerned about Norris goal lose, but lets see in 6yrs with Plymouth he scored 26 in 3years with us has scored 16 not eaxctly setting the world alight. GMac will be missed more from a teaching the youngsters stage than a playing stage, IMO. Others are asking why play players that have not signed a contract and then say play Healy - He has not signed a contract, Peters is alreayd rumoured to be leaving. We are a team in transition, transition takes time and patience, you can't change boardroom, manager and players and expect immiediate results...that just is not the real world

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tractorboybig added 18:11 - May 5 Like the comments? mainly negative which i suppose is par for the course from empty vessels . Best players town have had for a while along with Pablo. They can all see we are going nowhere. They are the lucky ones cause they have a choice and voom, away they go.
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bluearmy4life added 18:22 - May 5 It will take a miracle to get in the top six next season. Losing big players means we HAVE to be in for one of the busiest summers in the clubs history. Personally it's a FCUKN joke. Can't believe we are in the situation we are in. We are the laughing stock of the east in football terms at the moment. With Chuck, GM, CW possibly going we will need almost 11 new players? Are board and Keane are the reason we are in the mess we are in sort it out.

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Crazee added 18:31 - May 5 First of all I would also like to wish David Norris every best wish on wherever his future career takes him and thank him for his efforts whenever he pulled on the Ipswich shirt ... and of course, I mirror those sentiments towards Gareth MacAuly also. As many of pointed out, neither are irreplacable - however, replacing them may be harder and more expensive and losing them!! Vic - I respect your views, but to absolve Clegg of all blame is way wide of the mark. Yes, maybe PJ is quite preparing for Norris to leave, all managers have different opinions of the type of players they like, but certainly both Norris and MacAuley, whatever their perceived failings, both had a very tangible value if under contract. Now they are not worth the loose change in your pocket to ITFC. That is not down to PJ ... or Kenao either come to that matter. It is firmly down to Clegg and Mr Evans. As Clegg is the public face at ITFC of Mr Evans, I presume Clegg will come clean and explain to the paying public just how this shambolic state of affairs concerning so many senior pros being allowed to come out of contract at the same time. Highly unlikely I suspect. Keano was sacked for being a shambolic manager; now perhaps Clegg will do the decent thing and follow him out of the door for being such a shambolic CEO. Again, very highly unlikely, I suspect.

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floridaboy added 18:48 - May 5 Liked the comment 'must be good as they are wanted by other clubs' Norris is wanted by Portsmouth, Forest, Leeds and Wigan. Must be the signing on fee they are going to put in his bank account. Cannot be for footballing reasons! McAuley is wanted by Rangers. Must be for the signing on fee they are going to put in his bank account because I was always led to believe that the wages in Scotland are no better than the average in the championships and the level of football is about the same as Division 2 of the championship!!! Dont think either will be missed IMHO!

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RegencyBlue added 19:03 - May 5 Have to be completely honest. IMHO both Norris and MacAuley are very average Championship players - no more, no less! Neither should play on Saturday and I for one wont be shedding any tears over their departure.
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EatonBlue added 19:14 - May 5 Lets get this straight. Norris WILL be missed and has to be replaced. However, I have been annoyed by his attitude over recent months and imo we should not have a captain who lacks commitment to the club.
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IITFC1948 added 19:21 - May 5 Will we miss him?YES WE WILL.The same was said about Walters,did we miss him?YES WE DID .All the best Dave and thank you for your commitment to the town
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nkotb_sect5 added 19:43 - May 5 None of this lot have been exciting to watch, ever (exc loanee JB). None have taken the club forward during the last 3 years, none deserve hero worship (compared to well known names from the past) IMHO. Goodbye, good luck, move on. Bring in the next bunch, the future, and if they turn out to be cr*p I'll still renew next year (unless I'm skint).
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SonOfSpock added 20:33 - May 5 If they've not signed on they should not play. Would rather blood a youngster.
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denhamblue added 21:00 - May 5 we will replace them,with cheapies,frees,over the hill loanees.So all you people moaning were going places(just not sure where the places are).
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runaround added 21:12 - May 5 If Norris has told the club he wont sign then he should not play. It seems as though some of the players who havent signed contracts maybe upset at how the club has treated them but leaving the club in limbo by not indicating whether they will sign or not will hurt not only the club but their team-mates who are left and us mugs who pay their wages. As for things like "needing to look after their family" the players earn more than most of us can ever dream of and as long as they dont throw their money away will be made for life by the time they are 30. In the current economic climate with people losing their jobs or in danger of losing their jobs left,right and centre these players need a dose of reality. A deadline should be set and any players who haven't signed by then should have contract offers torn up and be told to go, then we may just get some people in who want to play for and are proud to play for ITFC even if they perhaps they aren't seen as big name players. After all the current squad hasn't exactly set the world alight has it and Budgies and Blackpool have shown in last couple of years how far togetherness and teamwork can get you!

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robdaful added 21:49 - May 5 This is only good news. Lets face it and take a leaf out of the budgies books. Bringing in players that want to play for the club, not thinking what better offer is on the table. I take it these players will be on a farewell and thanks town for letting me play for you in these past few seasons match.
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choprawontcome added 22:03 - May 5 make way for mr bullard,thankyou mr norris :)
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blueherts added 22:22 - May 5 Norris has not played a full season and in 3 and a bit seasons only about 100 games .. Has too many games where he runs around alot but makes little progress. We have been poor the last few seasons and this is the chance to clear out and start again - This is what PJ is in for ... I trust his judgement in transfer market and whilst from a 'Business/commercial' perspective letting him and MAC go for nowt is bad from a footballing argument I am not too upset ..he shouldnt play on Saturday either ... Bring in Hyam and Drury

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StochesStotasBlewe added 22:36 - May 5 Norris is an average footballer at best, and although gives 100%, is more often than not either suspended or injured.We will cope perfectly well when he has left and no individual is bigger than our club, however, good luck at which ever club you intend to join.
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typicalipswichfan added 22:49 - May 5 Seeya Norris, never good enough, do one. Have any of you guys seen him play before?
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jabberjackson added 13:30 - May 6 just let paul jewell get on and build his own team and back him i don't really care if they all leave and we start again with a £0 m kitty, the most important thing in any club is the manager, ask Norwich fans, and we have a half decent one stop bleating on about ME and SC and back the club
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h32 added 18:46 - May 6 Whether you like Norris as a player or not, at 30 he needs to be looking after himself and securing a 3 year contract - this Club have obviously not offered him that. Therefore I totally understand him leaving, because the fact is other clubs ARE interested, and have offered him what he is looking for. Good Luck Norris with your new club - shame on you Ipswich Town for throwing another couple of million away - another on the list of leaving for nothing !!!

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h32 added 19:05 - May 6 Good post Jason0999 - the state this Club is in cannot be described as anything other than SHAMBOLIC. Punters keep talking about all these so called players coming in - fact is that the shambolic situation we are in, will not be attracting players of the desired calibre to us. The only option is, as I have posted elsewhere, is to give the youngsters a chance and trawl the lower leagues for players with potential and desire to progress. In the meantime our Club continues to decline in terms of being attractive to players - seen evidence of that already, for those who care to see it.

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TimmyH added 19:40 - May 7 Totally agree with the above post - youngsters with the odd signing over the summer I think will be the order of the day. WIth bigger clubs coming down from the Prem league we will and are trending in the way of an average Championship team with a comparitively rich owner - but who wants to come to this club (bigger names) the way things have been going? - as mentioned we might have to go the Norwich route, and if they can do it why can't we?

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