Ipswich interested again in borrowing Albion defender Connor Goldson

The Championship club's manager, Mick McCarthy, said: "I've spoken to Chris Hughton about the availability of Connor Goldson."

Hughton, a former Republic of Ireland colleague of McCarthy, revealed earlier that Albion plan to send Goldson out on loan after he plays in Monday's FA Cup tie at home to Crystal Palace.

But it will only happen if they can bring in another central defender as cover.

A switch to Ipswich for the season for Goldson collapsed at the end of the summer transfer window when a move to the Amex for his his intended replacement, Dutchman Stefan Denswil, fell through due to an injury at his parent club Brugge.

A similar arrangement is back on the agenda in January for Goldson, who had major heart surgery earlier this year and has been restricted to one Premier League appearance, at home to Watford before Christmas, due to the form of Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy.

Hughton said this morning: "Probably the only one in our squad that we would still maybe look for something happening would be Connor Goldson.

"He played (against Watford), will play on Monday but, when we look at Connor and the games he has played in this last year-and-a-half, if we had an opportunity to get him out on loan and get regular games in the second half of the season then we would."

Albion also have experienced German Uwe Huenemeier but Hughton confirmed Goldson would have to be replaced.

He told The Argus: "This is a young-ish centre-half that in effect really hasn't played for a year-and-a-half.

"So if we can get him out on loan we certainly will but we would certainly have to bring in somebody as cover."

News of Goldson's availability is also likely to alert other Championship clubs.

Meanwhile, Hughton says Jiri Skalak is unlikley to be leaving this month now, with Jamie Murphy on the brink of joining Glasgow Rangers.

Hughton will be making changes for the Palace tie but young Irish midfielder Jayson Molumby is ruled out by injury.