Town boss Joe Royle says he has sympathy for wantaway midfielder Martijn Reuser. The Dutchman says he will leave Portman Road in the summer after failing to nail down a starting place with the Blues.

Royle told the club site: “If I was a player I would probably feel the same as Martijn. Every player wants to be out on the pitch.

“I can understand how he feels and he was very close to playing at the weekend but I see his best role in the side as a substitute, and my predecessor did as well.

“It's a 16-man game now and he came on at Gillingham and turned the game our way with a great free-kick and then a terrific cross for Darren Bent's goal.”

Reuser may get a rare start for Town against Nottingham Forest at home on Saturday. He could replace Tommy Miller who is a doubt with a hamstring problem.

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