Blues boss Mick McCarthy says Leicester manager Nigel Pearson is weighing up whether to allow midfielder Richie Wellens to rejoin Town on loan. The 32-year-old’s spell was up after Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Burnley with McCarthy keen to keep the one-time Manchester United trainee.

Town play the Foxes at the King Power Stadium next Saturday so Wellens wouldn’t be available for that game, but the Blues manager says he talked to his Leicester counterpart about a return late last week.

“I spoke to Nigel on Friday,” McCarthy told BBC Radio Suffolk. “He wanted to see how their result went [on Saturday] and he hasn't got a big squad.

"We're beholden to Leicester - he's their player. It's up in the air at the moment. We can do it next week if we feel we should and if they want to do it."

Leicester sent Wellens to Portman Road for a month in order to get fit and Pearson may want to assess whether the Mancunian is ready to go into his side before making his final decision. The Foxes may also wait until after Saturday's match in case they pick up injuries in midfield during that game.

Meanwhile, reports in Ireland claim Town would not receive compensation should the FAI wish to return Blues boss Mick McCarthy to his old role as manager of the Republic of Ireland national side.

The 53-year-old, who was previously in charge of Ireland from 1996 to 2002, is claimed to have a clause in his contract which would let him leave the Blues and succeed current boss Giovanni Trapattoni at the end of the season if the FAI wanted him.

The Italian is contracted until after the 2014 World Cup but has come under pressure due to recent disappointing results with McCarthy tipped for a return to the job before he joined Town at the start of this month.

Speaking at the press conference where his Town appointment was announced, McCarthy dismissed those rumours: “There were all sorts of stories that I’ve been tapped up and I’ve spoken to them, but it was barefaced lies. Nothing in it at all.”

However, he also said he could be interested in returning to his old job at some point in the future should it become vacant: “I’d go back, but when it’s right, when it’s available. I’m not trying to add pressure on to anybody else.”

Photo: Action Images

alliedaz added 11:41 - Nov 12 plz keep him he has passion in his blood and wants to play football and just wish there was a few more in our team with the same passion instead of moaning or tweeting their thoughts
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AbujaBlue added 11:41 - Nov 12 If I was Pearson I would be mad if I didn't want to keep Wellens. Let's hope he's completely bonkers.
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Len_Brennan added 11:56 - Nov 12 Pearson might let Ritchie stay until Christmas, but with the 24 hour recall attached. He'll be getting games here whereas he might be on the bench at Leicester for a while. Win win. Losing Mick, & for nothing, would be a disaster. A couple more bad results for Ireland & Trapatoni's days are surely numbered.
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PYBlue added 11:56 - Nov 12 Evans isn't that silly not to have a compensation Package in his contract. Anyway Mick won't be Going anywhere until we are in the Premership Next year.
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bluefeast added 12:00 - Nov 12 If he goes Martin will replace him ,which means we lose our balance. He is energetic but ill diciplined is Martin. Wellens is energetic but also plays for the team. Im not anti Martin ,he just ever so slightly a luxury player. If wellens goes back i just wonder if Mcarthy will sign a left sided midfield player on loan.
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bluefeast added 12:01 - Nov 12 . I would love to see Mick bring in Alan Judge or Matt Ritchie to add both creativity and work rate to the left flank.
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irishtim added 12:06 - Nov 12 Hope Wellens comes back. Live in ireland and i've come across nothing stating anything re mick & the irish job.
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olimar added 12:08 - Nov 12 "Evans isn't that silly not to have a compensation package in his contract." Assuming he had a choice. We are employing a manager whos previous two jobs ended as a premier league manager and who previously took a side to the World Cup. Thats not the CV of a manager employed in the bottom half of the Championship. If McCarthy wanted a clause in his contract, I suspect we might not have been in too strong a position to oppose it.

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itfc1981 added 12:12 - Nov 12 Gives Clegg and co a chance to get back to their normal level of apointments.
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cromwellblue added 12:27 - Nov 12 7 of the 11 starting Saaturday were loans. That is unsustainable. Wellens should only return if we have agreed a permanent deal to come into effect on 1st Jan. If not we need to learn to live without or we simply prolong the problem.
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KangarooBlue added 12:52 - Nov 12 Cromwellblue, it was six loans, not seven. Reo-Coker is here on a short term contract.
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karls_dad added 12:55 - Nov 12 If all this about a clause is true and ITFC were aware about it, surely we should have gone for Mr Holloway, utter madness to have this hanging over us, as much as i admire MM, and he certainly has the correct qualities, in the light of this we have made a boo boo!
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Mark added 13:20 - Nov 12 Wellens is clearly improving as he gets fit, so expect Leicester will take him back now. Maybe McCarthy could find a replacement who could be brought in on loan but with a permanent deal agreed for January? We have to end the short-termism. Talking of short-termism, these Ireland links are a real worry. McCarthy has said he is interested in the job "when it's right, when it's available" and it is likely to be available soon. What a blow it would be for our season if he were to leave!

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TR11BLU added 14:52 - Nov 12 Well if he keeps us up and departs at the end of the season, the time would be perfect to bring in karl Robinson.
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brian_a_mul added 15:21 - Nov 12 Nothing to worry about! Trapattoni is on a huge contract with FAI until 2014. They cant afford to sack him & why would they?? he has done a good job so far. Mick is with us for the next few years. Mick is an excellent manager, if he does well he will inevitably be linked with bigger clubs. If in the future he is linked with other clubs/Ireland it means he will be doing a good job here!

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irishtim added 15:24 - Nov 12 Well said brian.
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warbeat78 added 15:45 - Nov 12 Speculation!!!! I cannot see us giving him a three year contract with a clause in there that would let him walk away for nothing, M.E alot of things maybe but certianly not going to be bullied into a contract like is being suggested hear or would have gone for alternative manager, this has all been done in the best intrests of club and respected management team M.M&T.C its not like he was the only one wanting job, so lets settledown everyone and enjoy the up @ coming revival of are great club that we all love that is, IPWICH TOWN FC coybsssss!!!!!!

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cromwellblue added 16:40 - Nov 12 I stand corrected 6 loans + 1 short termer + 4 of our own. The point remains, we should only bring him back if it will become permanent.
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Daleyitfc added 16:42 - Nov 12 Just be happy that he's gone, and hope that many more follow him.
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patrickswell added 18:14 - Nov 12 Wellens out...Hyam in....simples.
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gibbo added 18:25 - Nov 12 As long as he does not give away any match planning
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itfchorry added 19:06 - Nov 12 Any chance that the Irish need a CEO ?
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TimmyH added 19:38 - Nov 12 Yeah if he does come back (for a probable 3 months) then that's the center midfield sown up with 2 loanee's and I'm not sure we want that as neither will probably sign permanently , in the short term ok but their after leaves a problem.
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Bergholtblue added 19:38 - Nov 12 The mood Pearson was in Saturday, I wouldn't be surprised if he said NO! even if Ritchie was surplus to requirements at City. I have to agree that he has played well since he has been here. There again so did Roberts and Bullard when they were on oan and look what happened to them as soon as they signed. Loan to the end othe season and then we will see if he can really sustain his level of performance for Town or whether he is just playing to gety back to Leicester. I hope for the former as I rate him as a player and would love for him to be a success here.

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Talbs77 added 19:39 - Nov 12 Would be good if we kept him but unlikely I think. Getting a bit worried about all this talk already about MM future! Blimey the blokes not been here a fortnight!
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