Coppell makes McAuley enquiry

City have approached Ipswich with an enquiry for their captain and centre-half Gareth McAuley.

McAuley, 30, was a team-mate of former City defender Jamie McCombe at Lincoln and joined the Tractor Boys from Leicester in 2008 before going on to establish himself as skipper of the Portman Road outfit.

And Sky Sports.com reckon City boss Steve Coppell has made the enquiry due to lingering doubts over the fitness of Louis Carey, despite completing the double defensive capture of Nicky Hunt and Damion Stewart on Friday.

The 6’3′ centre-back has played for Northern Ireland 21 times, scoring one goal.

Meanwhile, speaking of Irishmen, City have taken Irish duo Patrick Hoban (Galway) and Jimmy Keohane (Wexford) on trial.

Both players are attacking midfielders and will feature in Tuesday’s final warm-up game against Clevedon Town after being recommended by the same scout who discovered Shane Long and Kevin Doyle for Coppell when at Reading.