Town boss Kieran McKenna has revealed the Blues are in discussions regarding striker Macauley Bonne, who he says he wants to be a big part of the team going forward.

It’s known that QPR are able to recall Bonne from his season-long loan, although manager Mark Warburton has previously played down the chances of that happening and the player himself has said he’d not be happy to be called back from his hometown club, while fans are keen to see the 11-goal top scorer signed permanently.

Elsewhere, Sunderland and Wigan are reported to have shown an interest in the one-time Colchester United frontman.

Asked if the Blues have heard anything from QPR or from Middlesbrough or Dijon, the parent clubs of fellow loanees Hayden Coulson and Bersant Celina, or whether he expects any discussions regarding their futures during January, McKenna said: “I think Macauley is one the club are in constant contact with.

“Obviously, he is having a really good season and he’s a really important player for us. He’s had a really good first half of the season and wants to be here.

“He’s an Ipswich boy, and it probably means the world to him, so again, we want him to be a big part of the team going forward. The club are in discussions and we hope that he can remain with us.

“Hayden has been injured since I arrived here, so he spent some time back in Middlesbrough getting some treatment on his injury, but he is now back here training hard and is working his way towards fitness.

“Bersant is another player who is a big talent. He’s a player I knew when he was first in the youth team at Man City from playing against them at Tottenham. So, I’m fully aware of what he can do and what he can bring to the team.

“Again, he’s had some issues with illness, some issues with injury and he’s back training now, and we want to build him back up.

“Build his fitness and his robustness up and find a way for him to be effective within the team, and hope that he can have a big part to play for us in the second half of the season.”

Asked whether he hopes that all three will still be Town players, either permanently or on loan, come the end of the window, McKenna responded: “Yes.”

Photo: Matchday Images

BobbyBell added 15:25 - Jan 6 Basically saying "no promises but we are doing our very best to make it happen". We can ask no more of the club than that.
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Bazza8564 added 15:26 - Jan 6 Love the final paragraph, nice one Macarena :)
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Jugsy added 15:51 - Jan 6 Making the noises fans want to hear. Well done Mr McKenna.
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BlueRuin69 added 15:59 - Jan 6 May not have scored lately but it was his excellent, strong forward play that led to Norwoods winner vs Wycombe. Please sign him up! Coyb
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Bluroo added 16:11 - Jan 6 Class act on the training ground and behind the microphone. Early days but I have a sneaking suspicion we may have unearthed a gem here!
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Saxonblue74 added 16:48 - Jan 6 Love that last bit, simple "yes" answer to a question! Nice to have a modern manager who doesn't start every answer with "listen" too!!
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Grumpy_Old_Man added 17:00 - Jan 6 Refreshing to have short, but honest, answers rather than a load of waffle.
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ringwoodblue added 18:25 - Jan 6 Hopefully we can secure both Walton and Bonne permanently but if doesn't happen, at least we know the club and Ashton in particular did their best. As others have remarked, how refreshing are McKenna's interviews after the Bulls**t Bingo we got from the last two managers.
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adamisablue2 added 19:07 - Jan 6 BlueRuin69 His centre forward play has generally been class. I think he has been involved somehow in a good 80 percent of out goals (Like "he's behind you!"). Has looked a bit burned out at times as playing alone up top can be knackering without the service but now he's in a two as one half of the bash brothers or even with Pigs (There's still a player there, he just needs the minutes) or Jackson, well any combination of that just screams goals if we can get Wes or Kyle fired up. Especially now we seem to be favouring 3 at the back as its been clearly obvious that a 3 5 2 is our strongest formation for quite a while now. Even if Cook was too stubborn to see it

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1psw1ch added 21:39 - Jan 6 he's a big Big player for us going forward,,,,I hope we get this deal done otherwise we'll lose him to another league 1 side
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Sospiri added 03:05 - Jan 7 I like the way he mumbles like a true Suffolk boy.
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Michael101 added 09:45 - Jan 7 Ring wood blue, yes it is good to hear good honest answers,as it's been waffle from the last 6 managers imo.
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