Boss Joe Royle is off to Holland this evening to watch Ajax reserves take on FC Twente's second string. The Town manager is stepping up his search for a new striker and left-back.

Royle told the club site: "We will have trialists with us over the next few weeks and, with the January transfer window just around the corner, we're looking at bringing in new players.

"With Sam Parkin injured and out for three to four months and Jay McEveley back at Blackburn after his knee injury, we have to make a striker and a left-back our priority positions now."

Chief scout Colin Suggett has joined Royle on the trip.

Danish striker Sammy Youssouf has started his one-week trial at Portman Road. The 29-year-old is 6ft 1in tall and started his career in Denmark with Fremad Amager but was taken to Hvidovre IF by the club's owner, former Manchester United and Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, scoring 16 goals in 2000/01 and 83 in 180 games in total.

In 2002 he had a less than impressive injury-hit five-game spell with St Johnstone in Scotland in which he scored once having made a £20,000 move to the all-but-relegated SPL club.

The frontman returned to his home town in 2002/03 when he joined AB Copenhagen and scored 12 times in 23 games before moving on to Holland and RBC Roosendaal.

Youssouf spent two seasons at Roosendaal, scoring seven times in 31 matches before signing with Portuguese side Marítimo last summer.

Having made five appearances, netting once, Youssouf looks to be on his way out of the Madeira club on a free transfer in January after a change of manager.

Photo: Action Images

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