On-loan striker Shefki Kuqi is snubbing adopted nation Finland's international call-up for their friendly with Canada on October 11th. The Sheffield Wednesday player would rather stay with Town and work towards winning a permanent deal with the Blues.

Town manager Joe Royle has welcomed his decision to stay behind: "I was thinking we would have to go into our league game at Bradford without Shefki, but he is adamant he won't be going. He is looking after our interests by not playing for Finland."

Town and Wednesday are understood to have agreed a fee reported to be £250,000 should Joe Royle decide he wants to sign the 26-year-old permanently at the end of his three-month loan spell.

Meanwhile, one of Kuqi's international team-mates, keeper Mikko Kaven, has been linked with Town by the Norwegian press.

Kaven, who previously played for Norwegian club VÃ¥lerenga, is currently with Finnish side Tampere United, a pre-season opponent of Town in seasons past.

However, with Kelvin Davis signed over the summer it seems unlikely that the Blues would be looking for another stopper, particularly given the current financial situation.

A number of other Division One and Premiership sides are also said to have been keeping tabs on the 28-year-old.

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