Ipswich boss Roy Keane has failed with a raid on Stoke City.

The Mirror says Keane has suffered a double blow in his efforts to reinforce the country's only team without a win this season.

Keane, desperate to lead the Tractor Boys off the bottom of the Championship, tried to sign Stoke defenders Danny Higginbotham and Leon Cort on loan until January.

But the move was blocked by Stoke boss Tony Pulis, who wants to keep the experienced pair on board even though neither has been a regular choice this season.

Keane, who is close to unveiling former England Under-21 boss Peter Taylor as his new first team coach, is without Northern Ireland central defender Gareth McAuley for the next fortnight.