Blues MD Ian Milne says Town selling on-loan striker Kieffer Moore during the January transfer window is "not on the cards". Moore is on a season-long loan with League One Rotherham United, where he has scored 13 times already during 2017/18, but with Blues manager Mick McCarthy having indicated that he plans to cut the spell short in January.

Asked whether there have been any developments regarding the 25-year-old’s situation on Saturday’s Life’s a Pitch on BBC Radio Suffolk (1hr 26mins 10secs), Milne said: “There are discussions about Kieffer Moore coming back. We’ll see what may happen in January.

“I was talking to the owner of Bristol Rovers [Wael Al-Qadi] in the week and he was talking about the havoc Kieffer Moore is wreaking in League One and he said he’d personally love us to recall him.

“I asked Wael how he thought he would perform in the Championship and he thought very good, I don’t know whether that’s just because he wants him recalled however!”

He added: “Equally, there is the other argument - do you let him go on for the rest of the season to really bed himself into it rather than bring him back?”

"The Millers were far from the only club interested in Moore, who the Blues signed from Forest Green Rovers for £20,000 in January of this year, prior to his loan switch in July and we understand his success at the New York Stadium has caught the eye of a number of Championship and League One clubs. Rotherham have already confirmed that they are keen to sign him on a permanent basis.

Quizzed on whether Town might cash in on Moore in January at a time when his stock is high, Milne responded: “I haven’t heard that we are going to do that. I don’t think that’s on the cards. There’s always a price but that’s not on the cards.”

Moore, who made 11 sub appearances for Town last season without finding the net, is contracted to the Blues until the summer with the club having an option to keep him for a further year.

The 6ft 5in tall Torquay-born frontman is currently two games through a three-match ban for a red card against Bristol Rovers and is set to return to action with the Millers when they take on Bury at Gigg Lane on Boxing Day.

Town are likely to wait until after the FA Cup third round tie with Sheffield United on Saturday 6th January to recall Moore as the striker is unavailable for that game having played for Rotherham earlier in the competition.

As TWTD revealed in October, Town already have Waterford striker Aaron Drinan lined-up to sign in January. Asked about plans for further additions and whether owner Marcus Evans will spend some money during the upcoming window, Milne said: “The reply I give to that, of course, is that Mick and Marcus will talk, and they are talking very much at the moment.

“He’s going to look at the injuries and what have you, he’s very excited about where we are in the league and how strongly we are playing at the moment, so I’m hopeful there will be some fruitful discussions going on.”

The Blues MD added: “I think there are certain places we’ve got to look at to improve and to keep going.”

Photo: TWTD

JackSted added 15:54 - Dec 19 "Mick and Marcus will talk, and they are talking very much at the moment. He's very excited about where we are in the league and how strongly we are playing at the moment". If only you had that same mindset when we were 2nd in the league 3 years ago Marcus. Hopefully you learnt from that mistake and actually invest in the January transfer window to push for promotion.

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Cookycrew added 16:03 - Dec 19 Top Quality Right-Back (ala Stearman) OR Centre-Half please.
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12th_Man added 16:10 - Dec 19 If the deal is big enough anyone's for sale
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dirtydingusmagee added 16:18 - Dec 19 thought there was to be some major announcement on Look East last night ,but it was just Milne ,with his feather duster .
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dirtydingusmagee added 16:21 - Dec 19 Deffinately would like to see Moore back with us and given some real time to prove himself ,not just warming bench till added time .
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Seasider added 16:23 - Dec 19 I think it would be wrong to sell him in January without having a further look at him. Interesting to hear that Mick ad Marcus talking a lot at the moment;about extending his contract ?
3

Carberry added 16:23 - Dec 19 It is totally pointless talking to Milne, all he does is choose the colour of the curtains.
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blueblood66 added 16:42 - Dec 19 In this case I would not bring him back unless another striker is departing......
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marcus1642 added 16:49 - Dec 19 Good point blueblood66. McCormick on his way then....
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marcus1642 added 16:50 - Dec 19 I mean Mcgoldrick of course.
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Global_Blue added 17:06 - Dec 19 For me, the interesting comment in all of this was: “He's going to look at the injuries and what have you” Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but it sounds like an approach of 'I'll fix the areas that need fixing for now, and save my cash for the summer and a new manager." It doesn't sound like the backing of a manager with a long term future at the club. If it was surely Mr Milne would have said 'we will take a look at the areas MM wants to strengthen and build".

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jas0999 added 17:19 - Dec 19 If we are bringing him back he needs to play. Otherwise would be better off on loan. The problem is who will he replace considering goal scoring hasn't been an issue this season? Also, perhaps it's just me, but I don't actually believe a word Milne says.
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geminimustang added 17:34 - Dec 19 MM won't leave as he's had a little bit of money in the last window and shown with a bit more,the play-off's are a possibility.ME believes stability is the key to success.I don't believe any manager could do better than MM without substantial investment in the team and unless another investor comes in,ME can't fund it.Realistically,to reach top 4? £10M-£12M?To reach automatic promotion?£15M-£20M?To accept MM's point,that's if the money buys the players that come in and it works."It's not an exact science".

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brazil1982 added 17:47 - Dec 19 Pointless - MM won't start him, and he'll get 10 minutes here and there and not score.
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iaintaylorx added 18:02 - Dec 19 If we take any money, we won't see it spent anyway! Definitely have him back for next season's new manager...
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Westcountryblue added 18:15 - Dec 19 Talking about to Wael Al-Qadi about Billy Boden...you've heard it here first. Only got 7 months to run on his contract and a cracking number 10 !
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itsonlyme added 18:27 - Dec 19 Why not swap Moore for Sears?
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martin587 added 18:34 - Dec 19 All pie in the sky at the moment.Lets just wait till January and not get too excited just yet.Wolves is more important at the moment,don't you think.🤔
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howdonblue added 18:39 - Dec 19 Agree has 0999 We don't need Moore and Milne has given us this drivel before
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SussexTractor added 19:27 - Dec 19 Excellent - he gives us the physical presence if Garner is out !
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NBVJohn added 19:42 - Dec 19 Ian 'the powers that be' Milne, what a boy he is. A couple of things a half decent MD should know: What the manager and owner are talking about Whether or not something will happen - 'I haven't heard' makes him sound like a supporter who thinks he knows what's going on in the club. Either say that it's nothing to do with you as the only responsibility you really have is to choose the brand of bog roll or tell us you know, you're working with them but you're not prepared to tell us at this stage. [Like MM does from time to time] or even better, say nothing until you have something to say.

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wayway added 20:17 - Dec 19 Get real, Evans is here for one thing and one thing only. MONEY. If there is a profit to be made Moore will be gone, as will Bart to Newcastle in January
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bluehook added 20:20 - Dec 19 What does Milne know about football? Absolutely zero. If we got rid of him, we'd be able to afford another player.
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woohoo added 21:33 - Dec 19 Nice to know that our owner is excited about us being below top 6. If we keep this up he will be delighted for us to stay in the Championship for ever. Still, nice to see that Milne is taking advice from an expert on football.....
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leftie1972 added 22:28 - Dec 19 Definitely need a good CB for January,
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