Boss Joe Royle says there are two or three players he has in mind as potential loan targets over the busy Christmas period. Crystal Palace midfielder Shaun Derry would be a player Royle would look at again but only if chairman Simon Jordan makes him available for loan.

The Town manager said: "If Palace change their minds I would still be interested. But Mr Jordan owns the club and is entitled to do and say exactly what he wants.

"I have two or three different kinds of players in mind. Because of the versatility within my squad, I can't say if I would definitely want to bring in a wide or central midfielder.

"Both Ian Westlake and Tommy Miller can play either role, so it would depend on our exact needs at the time as to who, if anyone, we would try to bring in on loan."

Royle says he expects summer trialist Mark Rivers to be out to prove a point when the Blues meet Crewe on Saturday.

Rivers failed to make much of an impression in pre-season with Town and joined his former club soon after, having settled his contract with Norwich City.

Royle says Rivers' previous club was a consideration when it came to deciding whether to sign him: "When I invited Mark for a trial I was looking for an extra midfielder. He did OK but I just didn't feel at that stage that it would have been the right move for us.

"He is a nice lad and I did also have it in my mind that it might be difficult for him at Ipswich as a former Norwich player."

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