St Ledger makes exit at Ipswich

Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy has revealed Ireland international Sean St Ledger has left the Championship club at the end of his short-term deal.

St Ledger, 30, joined Ipswich a month ago after a trial having left Leicester last summer and made the Blues first-team matchday squad twice but failed to make an appearance.

McCarthy says youngsters Matt Clarke, 18, and Elliott Hewitt, 20, will be his back-up defenders.

“He’s gone,” McCarthy said. “I’ve got Matt Clarke, who is excellent and I wouldn’t stand in his way... and I’ve got Elliott Hewitt on loan at Colchester, on 24-hour notice.”

Elsewhere Irish striker Noel Hunt is set to return to his parent club Leeds with no agreement in place on extending his loan at Ipswich.

Meanwhile Ireland defender Paul McShane has apologised to Hull City manager Steve Bruce and is back in contention for first-team dut.y

McShane, who hasn’t figured for Hull since the 1-0 defeat at Burnley on November 8, was dumped in the U21s after a bust-up with Bruce.

Bruce revealed that McShane is now back in his plans for the New Year’s Day game against Everton.