Town boss Paul Jewell says the Blues will definitely be in the fight to sign loan pair Danny Collins and Keith Andrews in the January transfer window despite reported interest from Premier League sides. Collins’s 93-day spell is up after Saturday’s home game with Derby, while Andrews is due to return to Blackburn Rovers on January 7th.

Jewell says he has told Collins that he would like him to come back, the centre-half having impressed since joining from Stoke in September: “I spoke to Danny on Monday, obviously it’s his last game on Saturday and we’d like to keep him.

“He’s done really well because his wife has given birth while he has been here and he’s been up and down the motorway, which isn’t always easy.

“He’s been terrific for us. We’d like to make that long-term, as we’d like to with Keith Andrews. But I’ve said before, we’d like to sign Messi and there’s no chance of that. But we want to keep those players, definitely.”

He admits he is likely to face rivalry from Premier League clubs with Wolves linked with Collins and Swansea and Wigan said to be eyeing Andrews: “You’re always going to be at the peril of that, and we understand that. Both players enjoy it here but I’m a big boy, I understand that there is interest from other clubs, and that’s always going to be the case, but we want to be in there fighting trying to sign them as well.”

Jewell says he’s yet to make contact with Andrews’s club, but talks regularly with Stoke: “If you can get hold of Blackburn, you’re doing well.

“I speak to Tony Pulis quite regularly. We’re trying to speak to the players’ agents to see if we can do something but there are a lot of hurdles to get over before we can sign the two of them. But we’d love to sign the two of them."

The Town boss would prefer to do permanent deals but concedes that loans may easier deals to do given their situations with their parent clubs: “If it was possible we’d like to sign them permanently but they’ve both got a year left on contracts at Premier League clubs [after this season].

“I think at the end of the day we will make our best offer and try and make it as attractive as we possibly can, working within financial parameters like everyone else. But if there’s Premier League interest in the two players, it makes it doubly difficult.”

Photo: Action Images

BiGDonnie added 13:28 - Dec 15 More money down the drain on a couple of 30+ yr olds!
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irishtim added 13:28 - Dec 15 sign them sell leadboots keep hyman sell priskin buy loach & a right back
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arc added 13:35 - Dec 15 I can't see Collins signing up for more long-distance commuting with a small kid at home--he'll surely have options closer to home. And it sounds like Andrews will have better offers. Time to build another new team. Ho hum.
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casanovacrow added 13:45 - Dec 15 I'm not impressed with Andrews, he's like Norris, gets goals but does little else for 80mins. shouldn't even be thinking about keeping him on with the costs involved. Once he signs he'll probably hit bad form like Bullard then we'll have another load of money wasted on a bench. Collins would be nice to keep until the end of the season when we can get a decent replacement for him. There is no point signing permanently, would cost too much. I agree with Irishtim, we should be keeping Hyam and ditching Leadbitter whilst we can get something for him. Time to do the Ipswich thing and get in up and coming players not fill up an old folks home full of has beens. We even look like a team with players with nothing to prove, they've been there n done that even at higher levels and it shows

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uppersirbob added 13:48 - Dec 15 Default user they have been two of our better players do you go to games
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fifeblue added 14:21 - Dec 15 Lose these two and we're down.
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footballfriend added 14:22 - Dec 15 We really need to sign both of these ASAP - Andrews has been amazing in midfield and has chipped in with a hatful of goals, and Collins has been our most solid defender (also with a few goals - bonus!). I would not have the same confidence in defence without Collins there - Sonko needs a reliable partner (which definitely is not Delaney or Ignamarrson!) I know a few people have said this but if we could find a few more young hungry gems from the lower leagues like Cresswell it will do us a world of good and really balance out the team

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pazelle added 14:32 - Dec 15 Maybe if we weren't in a relegation battle we could tempt them! This is just noise! They'll both be off. Jewell will too if we lose at home to Derby County!
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Mark added 14:34 - Dec 15 I think they have done well, and their goals have been a big boost, BUT they have been part of the team that lost 7 in a row. Collins is part of the leakiest defence in the league, not his fault necessarily but a fact. Andrews is often anonymous and doesn't control the midfield. So, while I would like them both to sign I would also like to see us look at other options, especially younger players from League One and elsewhere.

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irishtim added 14:45 - Dec 15 We have to sign them up as without some of andrews goals id hate to see where we would be. Im not saying he is the greatest midfielder by any means but he is a grafter poacher & trys. He is our top scorer so hang on to him .
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Brazils_Hair added 15:28 - Dec 15 Dont like to be too negative, but I dont think that we will keep either of them. As far as Andrews is concerned, I agree with Casanovacrow, which is a shame because without his goals we would be in a right old state. We must do the 'Ipswich thing' and look at up and coming players. We have too many mercenaries in the side that are bleeding us dry. Time to start looking at Russell Osmans youth team for some fresh legs and fresh attitude.

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8ashblue added 15:33 - Dec 15 i'm inxclined to agree that Andrews would be good to hang onto as a loanee only until season ends but then in summer try to find younger/cheaper on permanent basis. As for Collins, its disappointing that he has to go back after weekend but in view if his personal circumstances i doubt he'll return. Time for PJ to get full time central paring. Whetehr that includes Sonko or not i'm not bothered but the key to success is a good pair of cb's. My only issue with Sonko is his injuries so he could be out at end of season anyway.

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Martus added 15:44 - Dec 15 Andrews doesn't seem to be a Swansea or Wigan player, they play passing football, and he's not a great passer of the ball. I think the championship is his level and hope he stays. Don't pay too much tho as he's got 2 years left max.
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NSL added 15:56 - Dec 15 Just shows how low we have sunk to have to 'fight' to keep hold of these type of players. Yes, Andrews has been the best of a bad bunch in midfield and has scored goals, but so did Tommy Miller, So did Matty Holland. And Collins, compare him to the likes of De Vos, Mowbray, McGreal is nowhere near the standard we have been used to in the past. There we go, ITFC supporters seem happy to put up with a second rate football club these days. Perhaps some of you balance it out by the occasional trip up the A140.

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alfromcol added 16:04 - Dec 15 There are some mugs on this site. What does Andrews have to do. He is not a front man, but only 4 players in the Championship have scored more goals than him. If he was with us for the full season he would likely be the 20+ goal scorer everyone was saying we wanted at the end of last season.
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LollITFC added 16:16 - Dec 15 well said alfromcol ... and to add, the guy is going to want regular football prior to the Euro Champs, so think this could help us.
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Daleyitfc added 16:20 - Dec 15 Having loan players at all drags you down : get rid of them all.
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DiamondGezzer added 16:49 - Dec 15 Daleyitfc :- Posting negative comments drags most fans down. Take the time to sit down and think about the alternatives, then post .
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up_the_town4 added 16:58 - Dec 15 Hyam and Carson are the futur of our midfield give them both a chance of regular football they deserve
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h32 added 18:24 - Dec 15 alfromcol - have locked horns with you previously, and no doubt will again - BUT YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. And if you keep posting like this, I will not include you in the 'mug' category ever again !!. How's that ?
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h32 added 18:25 - Dec 15 ........ after all it is the 'season of goodwill' - or something like that.
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bohslegend added 19:29 - Dec 15 We need to keep Andrews, he's been excellent,
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alfromcol added 19:33 - Dec 15 h32 Thanks, I noticed that you posted positive after the Barnsley game. Keep up the good mood. Most of our 'locking horns' is simply the frustration of results and nothing more. Hopefully we can both enjoy Christmas after maximum points against Derby.
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ITFC4daprem added 19:58 - Dec 15 Andrews is key to are promotion battle
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Tractastic added 20:25 - Dec 15 No one thought we'd sign Bullard but we did so i haven't given up on Andrews just yet!!? The only problem is that clubs like Swansea and Wigan who struggle to score will obviously look at him and Blackburn will sell to the highest bidder.Hope he stays but the fact that we can't even get a response from Blackburn does not bode well. As for Collins his personal situation is obviously likely to mean he would prefer to stay in the Midlands and if Wolves interest is genuine i'm sure that's where he will go.Would love him to stay though as with a younger central defensive signing and his experience he could do well for ITFC. So with the likely departure of both its time for Jewell and his scouts to 'step up'.We have seen this coming for weeks now so time for PJ and co. to show they are worthy of managing and progressing this great club.

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