The 33-year-old missed just two league games last season but hasn't featured since November 29 at Brentford, one of only five appearances this term.

Ricketts is behind Dominic Iorfa, Matt Doherty and Ethan Ebanks-Landell at right-back, and Kortney Hause, fit-again Scott Golbourne and Doherty at left-back.

At centre-half, Jackett has Danny Batth, Richard Stearman, Ebanks-Landell, Iorfa and Hause.

Asked if Ricketts could be loaned out, the head coach said: "Yes we would, but no-one's come in for him and Sam hasn't been jumping up and down to go out necessarily.

"Sam's been out of the picture and, with younger players showing the form they have, first-team prospects are slim.

"They're all ahead of him which makes it tough to get back in the team with his contract running out.

"Some younger players have come through, Stearman's found some form, Batth has come back very well and we've talked a lot about the two full-backs."

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Ricketts is out of contract this summer along with Tomasz Kuszczak, Roger Johnson, Bakary Sako, Kevin Doyle, Leon Clarke and Zeli Ismail, along with youngsters George Swan and Connor Hunte.

Jackett conceded it will be hard for the former Bolton stopper to earn a new deal, saying: "It will be tough, because opportunities have been limited.

"There's potential in the players for those positions. They may fall away, but I'd be surprised if all of them do. He's been working hard and there are no problems with him."