Image:Wickham: Will not return to Ipswich on loan from Sunderland
Ipswich boss Paul Jewell has revealed Steve Bruce politely ignored his offer to take Connor Wickham back on loan from Sunderland.
Teenage striker will not return to Portman Road on loan
Ipswich boss Paul Jewell has revealed Sunderland counterpart Steve Bruce politely ignored his offer to take striker Connor Wickham back on loan.
Wickham departed Portman Road for Wearside on a four-year deal earlier in the summer for a fee in the region of £8million, with add-ons.
However, the 18-year-old has only played three times off the bench early in the Premier League campaign.
Jewell says he would welcome Wickham back on a temporary basis, but has revealed Black Cats boss Bruce has rebuffed the idea.
He said: "I spoke with Steve the other day and we were chatting about various things.
"I thought he probably needed another year in the Championship and I said to Steve if they wanted to loan him back, we would take him. He, very cleverly, went on to another subject.
"They bought him and he hasn't played but he might catch fire. He has certainly got the attributes and he is a man in body. But, football-wise, he is a boy."
