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

LankHenners added 19:49 - Nov 12 I would be (happily) surprised if we were allowed to keep him on loan for the rest of the season, let alone permanently, but hopefully we can have him until the end of January so he is here while McCarthy makes some important transfer decisions when the window opens.
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Tractorog added 23:22 - Nov 12 My brother in law looks the spit of Wellens... Now here's the plan....
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ericgates added 06:03 - Nov 13 I've got a feeling that Ireland may go down the Roy Keane route for their next manager.
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wkj added 08:12 - Nov 13 I am in no disagreement about the preference of having full term players over loans; yes I am under no misconception that we have to go into the Jan transfer window clear of the relegation zone in order to attract the kind of player interest we need. so yes; Wellens on a loan extension makes perfect sense to town but will The foxes let him return? as for MM for Ireland? well it s what is, but let's enjoy the time we have with him instead of trying to hand pluck a replacement for the man.

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