Out-of-contract striker Noel Hunt has rejoined the Blues squad for pre-season training. On Tuesday, TWTD revealed that the Irish international had been offered the chance to come back and train with Town.

Hunt was one of the five players whose terms were up at the end of the season who were not handed a new contract but told manager Mick McCarthy wasn’t ruling out offering them a deal later in the summer.

Midfielder Darren Ambrose joined up with the squad on Tuesday with McCarthy challenging him to win himself a fourth stint at the club.

Hunt could also be given a deal if he impresses but is understood to be primarily back at Playford Road to get himself fit ahead of the new season as he looks for another club.

The former Reading and Leeds man would appear to have a tough ask to secure another contract at Town with the Blues already having four senior strikers plus Luke Varney, who is expected to be given a contract once he recovers from his achilles injury.

The 32-year-old joined the Blues initially on loan from Leeds in November 2014 and scored a dramatic debut winner having come on as a sub at Charlton.

After being released by the Whites, he re-signed for the Blues on a short-term deal in January and in total made three starts and nine sub appearances, scoring three goals.

The other three players in the same position as Ambrose and Hunt - Paul Anderson, Stephen Hunt and Richard Chaplow - are not expected to return to the club, although speaking on Tuesday McCarthy was still to totally rule out their return. Stephen Hunt is currently back in Ireland working on his UEFA B Licence.

We understand that Ambrose will be included in the squad which travels to the Carton House Hotel in Co Kildare for a training camp next week, but that as things stand Hunt will not make the trip.

Meanwhile, Town are expected to confirm the signing of Arsenal youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles on a season-long loan this afternoon.

Photo: Action Images

iaintaylorx added 14:21 - Jul 2 would rather it be anderson... could see anderson as an attacking right back. still also believe we could do with a better goalkeeper, but would be happy with bart again.
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JackSted added 14:21 - Jul 2 I hope this doesn't mean that Murphy could be moving on!
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ericclacton added 14:30 - Jul 2 I like him, jen you eye in.
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JimmyJazz added 14:31 - Jul 2 What's the betting that the next news story says Maitland-Niles to sign next week?
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sweas77 added 14:35 - Jul 2 Anyone else concerned this loan deal for Maintland-Niles keeps dragging on and is still not confirmed?
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oscarwhiting added 14:40 - Jul 2 am starting to sweas
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blues1 added 15:06 - Jul 2 Have we possibly got the most impatient fans around? Lol. Don't recall it saying that the Maitland Niles deal would be completed at any particular time of day. Just that it be done today. And no, hunt training hardly means Murphy is on his way as for 1hes only training with us and if Murphy was to go hunt is hardly a replacement for him.
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afcfee added 15:08 - Jul 2 Hunt could / would only be signed for back up nothing wrong with that
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theipswichman added 15:12 - Jul 2 5 strikers is a lot, would be estatic with the 5 that we have though because hunt did a good job last season as a backup.
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MeenoITFC added 15:29 - Jul 2 Maintland-Niles will come through in time. As for noel what does this mean about our other strikers?? is it a bye bye murphy or just a useful back-up striker i don't know.
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blues1 added 15:45 - Jul 2 Why don't people read the whole story before commenting? It clearly states that hunt is training here while looking for another club and is very unlikely he would be signing for us
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MrBloo added 15:45 - Jul 2 JackSted, you could well be right. Hunt is the insurance policy if Murphy goes. If Murphy stays, Noel will be fit with a preseason behind him and better placed to find another club.
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GeorgeITFC24 added 16:18 - Jul 2 I'd like Hunt to sign a new contract. A good squad player and is capable of playing on the wing as well
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jas0999 added 17:15 - Jul 2 I have nothing against Hunt, but if Murphy does move on, then I don't expect Noël to be his replacement. We would need to sign a far better striker. That said hunt is more of a winger nowadays and could be a decent squad player. I personally don't see the point of Ambrose though. Worth noting both players were budgeted for last season, so hope the club don't expect us to believe that's where the Mings money was spent. I still expect more additions, both frees and fees.

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WhoisJimmyJuan added 18:48 - Jul 2 Well I speak from the heart here but the way he had fun with the kids in the hospital at Xmas and his clear contempt for Naarwich fans in play offs , I would have him back in a blink. Legend. Heart over head on this for me
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 18:48 - Jul 2 Well I speak from the heart here but the way he had fun with the kids in the hospital at Xmas and his clear contempt for Naarwich fans in play offs , I would have him back in a blink. Legend. Heart over head on this for me
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 18:48 - Jul 2 Well I speak from the heart here but the way he had fun with the kids in the hospital at Xmas and his clear contempt for Naarwich fans in play offs , I would have him back in a blink. Legend. Heart over head on this for me
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GiveusaWave added 00:47 - Jul 3 A good character to have around. Him, Ambrose and S. Hunt should be re-signed too. He is able to play in midfield-attack so would be a good option in a creative role. Could be a vital player as Varney will take a long time to come back. For the time being he would be our fourth striker. He knows the club, is popular with the fans and has settled in well.
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KiwiBlue2 added 01:05 - Jul 3 Yes, I think that given the size of the squad he and Ambrose would be very handy to have around. N Hunt's 3 goals was a good return for the time he spent on the pitch last season and as others have said, all things being equal, he is also a good person to have around.....
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