FORMER Newport County AFC midfielder Lee Evans is hunting games as a free agent after agreeing a mutual termination of his Ipswich contract.

The Wales international made 61 appearances for the Championship promotion hopefuls after joining from Wigan in 2021.

However, the 29-year-old from Newport has been plagued by knee injuries since February 2022 and had surgery last October.

Evans was set to be out of contract this summer and reached an agreement with the Tractor Boys to end his deal early with the aim of finding another club for the run-in.

South Wales Argus: EXIT: Lee Evans, pictured on the right in pursuit of fellow County old boy Conor Washington, has left IpswichEXIT: Lee Evans, pictured on the right in pursuit of fellow County old boy Conor Washington, has left Ipswich (Image: Press Association)

"Lee Evans has progressed really well with his injury, but is still probably a month or so away from being fit," said manager Kieran McKenna.

"Following discussions with the club, both parties agreed it's going to be so important for him to get games in the second part of the season if possible.

"He's a terrific player, terrific professional, has missed a lot of games through injury. We hope now that the issue is fully resolved because he's had the surgery.

"But it's really important for him to get back playing games again now. He's hopefully going to be fit for the last few months of the season and with the depth that we have in those positions it was unlikely that he was going to get the game time here.

South Wales Argus: Lee Evans in action for WalesLee Evans in action for Wales

"Lee came to an agreement with the club. He'll of course continue his rehabilitation here, do his last month of work until he's back full training and then he'll have the opportunity to go and try and sign somewhere as a free agent.

"Hopefully he'll get quite a few games before the end of the season. Whoever takes him will be getting a very, very good football player, a fantastic character and someone who is hopefully now set up for some really good years ahead."

Evans came through the ranks at County and, after making 25 appearances, earned a move to Wolves in 2013 before going on to play for Bradford, Wigan and Sheffield United.

He won the first of his four Wales caps against Panama in 2017.