Ipswich Town boss Jim Magilton thinks Alan Pardew's departure from West Ham United may open the door for a return for midfielder Mark Noble.

Noble spent three months at Portman Road on loan earlier this season but returned to Upton Park last month.

However, Pardew was sacked as Hammers manager yesterday, after a string of poor results.

That has raised Magilton's hopes that it could leave the door open for Noble to make a Town return in the near future.

Magilton said: "I spoke to Alan last week about the possibility of Mark coming back here and at that stage he wasn't prepared to let that happen.

"Obviously things have changed at West Ham now but I'm certainly interested in bringing him in.

"He was very popular at this football club and did a good job for us and I know that some of the players here have remained in touch with him.

"We will see how things go but it's a possibility that Mark could be here in January."