STEPHEN Ireland missed out on a chance to impress Phil Parkinson on Saturday because of a calf injury.

The former Manchester City and Aston Villa midfielder trained with Wanderers last week and is expected to return to Lostock again in the coming days.

Parkinson confirmed there had been talks with the 31-year-old but says there is no deal on the immediate horizon.

“Stephen is a player I have had a chat with over the summer but there’s no progress at this moment in time,” he said after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Girona.

Ireland has spent his entire career in the Premier League, making more than 300 appearances, and it remains to be seen whether he could fit into Wanderers’ budget.

Parkinson confirmed, however, that some of the trialists who have been at the club in the last few weeks could soon be secured.

Ex-Nottingham Forest defender Jack Hobbs and former Colchester United keeper Sam Walker are strongly tipped to get a deal.

“There are one or two deals we want to get over the line early in the week,” Parkinson said. “It’s the lads who have been in with us that we’ll be looking to sort out one way or the other.”