Johnson still wanted at Ipswich - Burley

Ipswich Town manager George Burley has insisted that David Johnson remains part of his first-team plans after rejecting a bid from Nottingham Forest for the striker.

Forest boss David Platt made an inquiry about the player's availability on Thursday as he seeks to boost his First Division squad's firepower.

But Burley immediately turned down the offer for the 24-year-old Town hit man - and revealed that Johnson was happy to stay and fight for his place at Portman Road.

He told Ananova.com: "You get offers for players and you either accept it or you don't. David is a very valuable member of our squad and we want to keep him.

"He has been unfortunate because of the form of Marcus Stewart - Marcus has scored 13 goals in the Premiership and has been absolutely oustanding.

"But that's the way football works, and David has been working hard to try and get back into the team.

"Naturally he wants to be in the starting line-up and playing regular but at the moment that's not the case."

But Burley offered the former Bury forward a glimmer of hope with the news that Johnson will figure in his plans against Morcambe in the FA Cup this weekend.

"David will be involved on Saturday," he said.

Meanwhile, Burley confirmed that French defender Manuel Thetis has been released from his Ipswich contract after failing to make the first-team squad this season following an unsuccessful loan period at Wolves at the start of the campaign.

"Manu hasn't been able to push into the squad this season, so we've agreed with him to release him from his contract," added Burley. "I think he's probably looking to go back abroad."