Clark denies Stead approach

Stead: Linked with Huddersfield return

Huddersfield Town boss Lee Clark has denied making a move for Ipswich Town striker Jon Stead.

The 27-year-old, who began his career with the Terriers in 2002, looks set to leave Portman Road after falling out of favour.

Ipswich boss Roy Keane spent £600,000 on Stead last summer after he scored 13 goals on loan from Sheffield United during the 2008/09 season.

Stead then scored six in 13 starts for Town last term but was sent on loan to Coventry for the second half of the season.

Clark has been linked with a swoop for Stead, who made a blistering start in the Premier League after making a £1.25million move from Huddersfield to Blackburn in February 2004.

But the Terriers boss, who signed youngster Jordan Rhodes from Ipswich last summer, insists he has not made contact with Keane regarding a possible return for Stead.

Big impact

"Jon's a very good footballer who made a big impact after moving from here to Blackburn and has continued to score goals ever since," Clark told the Huddersfield Examiner.

"He's also a player (performance coach) Steve Black knows well, having worked with him at Sunderland.

"But he is under contract at Ipswich, and if I wanted to speak to any player under contract, I would approach his manager first.

"That's what I did with Jordan Rhodes, but I haven't contacted Roy about Jon Stead."