Ipswich Town will intensify their search for a new midfielder after trialist Pascal de Vries returned to Holland.

The FC Twente player trained with the Town squad for several days but the weather put paid to his chances of a reserve team outing.

It means Town are still desperately short of cover and boss George Burley said: "I am still looking to strengthen the side. Pascal didn't really get the chance to show what he could do while he was here because of the weather.

"I still have several options and I am continuing my search to improve the squad."

One name Town have again been linked with is Sheffield United's Martin Smith.

The former Sunderland midfielder trained with Town at the beginnning of the season and impressed Burley enough to be offered a contract.

But the 25-year-old opted to sign for his mentor Adrian Heath at the Blades but he returned to Sunderland as first team coach earlier this month.

Smith - who has scored 13 times this season - has a contract until the end of the season but he is stalling on a new deal.

He is rated in the £500,000 bracket but could leave Bramall Lane on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling at the end of the season.

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