Charlton midfielder Graham Stuart could have been a Town player had the Blues accepted the Addicks' £3 million bid for striker Darren Bent last week. Boss Joe Royle says he would have been keen to bring in the former Everton, Chelsea and Sheffield United man on loan.

Royle said: "I would have wanted Graham Stuart on loan if any deal was going to go ahead. If we had lost a player from the squad I'd have wanted one in straight away.

"But as things stand, we are going into the next part of the season and we still have four front players, so there's no problem."

Stuart, 33, is a big speedway fan and has been seen at Foxhall Stadium on occasion with former Town keeper Richard Wright. The Tooting-born midfield player may well have welcomed a switch to Portman Road after little involvement at the Valley this season.

Royle says he is not expecting to hear any more from Charlton regarding Bent before the closure of the transfer window at midnight tonight: "I can't see anything happening before the deadline. I am sure Charlton would have been back to us before now if they wanted to make an improved offer."

Bent is now away on international duty as are Ian Westlake, Lewis Price and Jason De Vos, and Royle himself is taking a few days away at his holiday home in Majorca. The Town boss is using the break in the fixture programme to allow players to rest before getting back into training in earnest next Monday.

Royle is pleased with his side's start to the season which sees them third in the table: "We'd have settled for this start, one disappointment at Derby apart.

"There has been such a turnaround at the club in such a short time. We virtually have a new team, with very few of last year's team still with us, so to be sitting third in the table is a good achievement."

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