Town chiefs Paul Jewell and Simon Clegg would both be interested in taking former striker Connor Wickham on loan if Sunderland were to allow the 19-year-old to move on a temporary basis next season. Reports in the North-East on Sunday linked Wickham with a possible return to his old club.

Jewell says Town have first dibs on Wickham if the Black Cats were to make him available, although he says his wages might be prohibitive depending on what sort of proportion the Wearsiders would be looking for a loan club to pay: "We have first say on Connor as part of the deal that took him to Sunderland, although there are other factors regarding wages that will make it difficult for any Championship club to take him.

"But if Sunderland wanted him to go out on loan and play football and something could be sorted out, then of course we would be interested."

Chief executive Simon Clegg similarly is similarly positive: “Let’s see where we get to on that. I wouldn’t rule anything out. He left on very good terms and I’ve kept in contact with him since he left, and with his father.

“If they want to let him out on loan, then depending on where he fitted into the rest of the squad and if that’s what the manager wanted, then I’d be delighted [to see him return].”

Wickham joined Sunderland from the Blues last summer for an initial fee of £8.1 million but has made only six starts and 12 sub appearances this season, scoring one goal.

Photo: Action Images

Wickets added 10:16 - May 4 More to the point 10 years on why have we still got dirty scruffy tarpalins on the back of the Sir Bobby?
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Essexnblue added 10:20 - May 4 Amazes me-you slaughter Clegg for everything, but dont credit him for getting 8.1 million with 4 million more to come based on appearances for an 18 year old who didnt score regularly in the Championship. To me thats great business, as it was a step to far to quickly for Connor, so he now has to rebuild his CV and get noticed by O'Neill who isnt afraid to put youngsters into his teams, but not this 1, I wonder why? I would have him back but for a year but only with no return clauses otherwise we will have another loan circus which ruined our club last season.

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Legend added 10:22 - May 4 He would take this league by storm! His pace alone would run most championship defenders ragged. Get him back here for a full season. I always said that he needed another full season in this league.
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Surco72 added 10:24 - May 4 The two posts above are exactly the contradictory standards of our supporters . "We must play young players" but then if they are not suddenly Gerrard,Lampard or Rooney instantly they are "overrated or not living upto expectations " They are young kids learning their trades ,give them time to develop ,strikers reach their full potential mid to late twenties . Wickham is clearly an exceptional talent hence his progression through the England youth set up etc and would clearly be an asset to our team next year

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Surco72 added 10:25 - May 4 Obviously my post was in reply to Johnwarkstash and Paddy39
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michaeldownunder added 10:35 - May 4 I understand that the tarpalins on the back of the stand are to help with drying of the pitch. The were/did have some other system in mind of a type of blind but it was thought that fans may damage them. Tarpalins also help with letting out the hot air coming from some fans !!!!!! 8.1 for Wickham was a great deal for us plus a poss of another 4 million depending on games/goals/playing for England. A lot of money for a player of his age/talent paid out by Sunderland, almost as good as the 6 million we got for Bramble. Mind you Liverpool paid out 35 million for a player no better than him and Connor has a better haircut.

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yorksblue added 10:39 - May 4 But PJ will play him as a winger and wonder why it won't work.
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jas0999 added 10:45 - May 4 We need to learn from our mistakes - PJ said he had - but now we are after loans! If we could get him on a season loan then okay - but this would still not be building. A couple of months would be pointless - we need consistency
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village_blue added 10:47 - May 4 if it comes down to a straight choice between Wickham and Murphy I would take Murphy every time as he offers an awful lot more than Wickham.
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Special_A added 10:50 - May 4 Why do some people not want him? He would be a great signing. Straight in scoring goals!
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buryblue77 added 10:57 - May 4 Good point nitro, I guess £8m doesn't go very far when you've a load of over paid players to accomodate. Now they're all gone (so has the money) we sadly haven't got another highly rated youngster to mug off another Premier League side for another £8m and let's face it, most of our big name players over the last 15 years who we have sold off for big money haven't exactly been all that successful. Dyer, £6m and always injured, same for Wright, Bent the only one any good and Titus Bramble.....

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Guthrum added 11:15 - May 4 Wickham would be a good player to fit into the Murphy role, if we can't get the latter. He knows how to track back, get the ball and make runs on goal, can play wide attack as well as centrally, he's tall and he can score. In addition, he knows the club, the set-up and several of the players; there was no acrimony surrounding his departure and it sounds like he's kept in touch. In summary, can play the required positions, knows our manager and could slot straight into the team, club and town. 24-hour recall clauses are usually only applied to goalkeepers, they being players potentially needed as urgent cover at their parent club in case of injury or suspension. And as for the £8m, have you not noticed that ITFC were running an operating loss of around £10m per year for several seasons even before any of these supposedly big-money players joined last summer? That £8m avoids having to take on further loan amounts just to keep our club running.

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StowTractorBoy added 11:18 - May 4 Its no different from signing a player on a one year deal a la Hyam providing of course it is a season long loan with no call back. We should learn from last season and as others have said it has to be on the aforementioned terms. Can't understand the negatives at all he is big strong and powerful and with a decent pre season could be awesome. There is no doubt that he will want to play for us as well - no brainer to me.

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itfc1981 added 11:19 - May 4 Our season could well depend on us getting him on a season long loan. Clearly we cant afford to get players of his standard into the club.
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Karlosfandangal added 11:23 - May 4 What is left of the £8.1 million Wickham fee we could spend on Wickhams wages, Makes great business sence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Maverick_Mitch added 11:24 - May 4 Would give us some height and options up front and we need more penetration in attack. If on loan must be for full season.
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newboy added 11:36 - May 4 Why when they keep banging on about financial fair play would they want to give him 15,000 a week which would cover the wages of players with the experience and expertise to take them forward it just gets worse
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hairbear added 11:37 - May 4 The comparisons between Wickham & Murphy are obvious as both played left wing for the 2nd half of their respective seasons but the 17/18 yearold was much more of a goal threat, his goal record backs that up. Far better than Murphys. For those of you that don't rate him what do you want from youth players? If you couldn't see the potential in Wickham then your posts on here don't hold any substance!

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Legend added 11:42 - May 4 Imagine Jet and Wickham on the same pitch.... That would certainly pull in the punters!
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Garv added 12:49 - May 4 Great to hear Clegg and Jewell are interested. Make it happ
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Garv added 12:49 - May 4 Great to hear Clegg and Jewell are interested. Make it happ
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Garv added 12:50 - May 4 Great to hear Clegg and Jewell are interested. Make it happen!
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Mutiny added 14:04 - May 4 If continue to use loanees proves that no long term development plan for the club - just plugging holes.
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CPratchett added 15:48 - May 4 We should sign Billy Paynter from Leeds, he's got a lot of potential
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algarvefan added 15:59 - May 4 Davin44 so Wickham has amazing quality, I have never seen this myself, must be all the goals he scored for our first team or the way he has adapted to first team football at Sunderland.....No?.......then what is amazing about him....the fee we got, that;s what!!!!
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