Defender deal extended

Stoke have agreed to extend the loan spell of defender Danny Higginbotham at Championship outfit Ipswich.

Higginbotham has impressed in the five appearances he has made for the Tractor Boys and he will now stay at Portman Road until December, with a view to a possible permanent move. The defender has slipped down the pecking order at Stoke but boss Tony Pulis is well aware of the contribution he has made at the club and is keen to help him in any way he can. Talks with Ipswich have been ongoing and Pulis says it is now a done deal. "I have spoken to Paul Jewell and he is really pleased with him, so it will be good for him to stay there for another couple of months," Pulis revealed. "Danny is a fantastic lad, one of the bedrocks on which we have built our success over the past few years. "We'll do everything in power to help people who have been good to us, and Danny has certainly been good to this football club."