WANDERERS have been told by Cardiff City that Kevin McNaughton will not be making a return to the Reebok Stadium.

Dougie Freedman had hoped to bring the experienced defender back on loan to help steady the ship, but after seeing the Scot become a regular in the Bluebirds side since heading back to South Wales on Boxing Day, he has now had to switch targets.

McNaughton had been filling in at left-back for Cardiff until he was switched to the right for Tuesday night’s Premier League clash with Manchester United, and would have been ideal for Wanderers in their current predicament.

But Freedman has now had to switch to Plan B ahead of this weekend’s game at Ipswich Town after being told by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he intends to keep hold of the talented 31-year-old. Cardiff are short on defensive cover themselves and yesterday pulled out of a move for Wigan Athletic’s Ivan Ramis.

Joe Mason could still make a return to Wanderers, however, with Solskjaer still undecided on whether he will let the 22-year-old striker out on loan.