Town have confirmed the signing of Crystal Palace striker Stern John on loan until 29th December. The paperwork on the deal was completed close to the 5pm deadline with the authorities rubber-stamping the move later in the evening.

The Trinidad and Tobago international has played for the Eagles only seven times since joining them in the summer after undergoing elbow surgery in August. He is yet to score this season.

Having played for Malta Carib Alcons in his home country, John moved on to the Carolina Dynamo, the New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers and Columbus Crew in the US before relocating to England with Nottingham Forest in 1999.

Since then the 5ft 11in tall frontman has played for a long list of clubs, largely at Championship level: Birmingham City, Coventry, Derby (loan), Sunderland, Southampton and Bristol City (loan), before joining Palace in the summer on a free transfer. He has made 109 appearances for his country, scoring 69 goals.

In eight months at Sunderland under Keane between January and August 2007, John scored five goals in 10 starts and six sub appearances, helping the Black Cats to win the Championship. Overall in English football, John has scored 97 goals in 250 starts and 105 sub substitute appearances.

The striker will train with his new team-mates on Friday and is likely to make his debut at Cardiff on Sunday.

Photo: Action Images

BoxerBlue added 23:59 - Nov 26 Nah it's none of u lot it's that tit ncfcprideofanglia
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emergencylime added 00:03 - Nov 27 I've been lazy in only reading pages 1 and 7 of this thread, but it's a slightly surprising signing given our fragile relationship with Palace in the recent past?! Anyroad, I'll give him a chance, but I thought we were starting to find a solid team. I hope he helps the competition for places and doesn't get put off by the whingers.
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JayITFC added 00:06 - Nov 27 I find it really interesting how fans seem so split over the club in the last year. It started when things were going tits up for Jim and has continued under Keane's management. Everything is either black or white in Suffolk right now. You either want Roy's babies or you want him out! Also think it's ridiculous that anyone not pleased with the John loan deal is tarred with the "your not a loyal supporter" brush.

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Bluecasp added 00:19 - Nov 27 It amazes me how everyone agrees we need a striker but can't recall anyone suggesting that stern john Is the answer but as soon as we sign him he turns into a star performer. FFs he can't even get in the palace team ahead of Alan Lee.
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EatonBlue added 01:19 - Nov 27 Let's see what he can achieve in the six games that he plays before we pass judgement.
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blue_floyd added 02:07 - Nov 27 Sounds like a panic signing to me. Keane clearly can't attract anyone decent, so, at the very last minute, he goes for an injury-prone has been instead. I find it really hard to get excited about this signing.
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NorwichBlue138 added 02:50 - Nov 27 Good signing Keano - just give him a few games and he will definitely start banging them in for us COYB
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firmfoundations added 06:23 - Nov 27 Just shows the ambition held by those at the top of OUR club. League 1 here we come!
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august10 added 07:46 - Nov 27 I don,t know what wrong between stead and keane he seams to score then get dropped and this won,t give Connor any heart being shunted down the pecking order even further he needs games, maybe John will be the answer give him a chance perhaps it,s a stop gap until Lisbie comes back in January hopefully a better player after his spell at Colchester. We need width in team which is what Civelli will bring would like to see a bit more of Edwards attacking wise all I saw in last macth was him tracking back. Hears hoping we are not clutching at straws.

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corshamblue added 08:01 - Nov 27 Can't say I'm over the moon, but once he's got that shirt on it's a different matter. If he can bring a new dimension [goals] then all the better, will wait to see how this one pans out before making judgement, I suggest others do the same. Initial gut feeling: desperation.
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Surco72 added 08:20 - Nov 27 Injured .... Stead and Counago have not been tried together all season so how would we know or Keane know if they could score us goals . But minutes on the pitch to goals ratio they are better than Priskins record or an unfit John . But last season Stead scored a goal every 2 games he started and has done well in recent games 2 from 2 starts so why not give him a long run alongside Counago rather than bring in another player who no one has played with and will need time to gel ?

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brockleyblueboy added 08:42 - Nov 27 This could be a good signing. Some players can be a real suprise. When we signed Shefki, people were like who? People were unsure of Alan Lee. You can look at so many signings that peoples first reaction is one of despair but some just click into a system and work. Either way its going to give the other strikers a good kick up the backside. I can't see us losing at Cardiff and so he could be the difference to getting us that elusive 2nd win. Good luck boys.

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brittaniaman added 08:44 - Nov 27 Well DEFOE was"nt available so we have got to settle for STERN, let us hope he can help to get us to 4th bottom for a start
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campowasgod added 08:48 - Nov 27 Great - Lets not bother paying Palace any of his wages . Then a couple of years down the line when they start bleating ME can just cut them a chq
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greenkingtone added 09:20 - Nov 27 suffolk n good: There are no quality 20 goal a season strikers available. They all play for Prem teams, want too much money, refuse to drop a division, or won't come to ITFC. Let's give Stern John a fair chance. Worst case, he is only here for a month.
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hype313 added 09:22 - Nov 27 Apperently RK has two games to save his job, two more losses and rooted to the basement would be game over. I said before I back managers to the hilt but bottom at xmas with one win all season, i've seen managers sacked for a lot less. Just want us to be challenging as we should be, don't care who is in charge anymore.
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L8on_ITFC added 09:26 - Nov 27 I tink its gr8 that we've signed such a great player, i reckon he is a nice bloke. we need someone like him on our team. stead is poo, we shud sell im to norwich lolz. good signing Roi! x
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BlueFinn added 10:12 - Nov 27 143 somments for just Stern John for loan!!! Could be the best we can get though and didn't he have the knack of scoring in debut? Career statistics (correct as of 21 November 2009) Club Season League Apps Goals Assists Carolina Dynamo 1997 5 0 ? New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers 1997 25 16 ? Total 1998—1999 30 16 ? Columbus 1998 27 26 ? Columbus 1999 28 18 ? Total 1998—1999 55 44 ? Nottingham Forest 1999-00 17 3 ? Nottingham Forest 2000—01 29 2 ? Nottingham Forest 2001—02 26 13 0 Total 1999—2001 72 18 0 Birmingham 2001—02 15 7 0 Birmingham 2002—03 30 5 3 Birmingham 2003—04 29 4 0 Birmingham 2004—05 3 0 0 Total 2001—2005 82 16 3 Coventry 2004—05 30 11 0 Coventry 2005—06 25 10 0 Derby (loan) 2005—06 7 0 0 Total 2005—2006 7 0 0 Coventry 2006—07 23 3 3 Total 2006—08 78 24 3 Sunderland 2006—07 15 4 2 Sunderland 2007—08 1 1 0 Total 2006—2007 16 5 2 Southampton 2007—08 40 19 3 Southampton 2008—09 7 0 0 Total 2007—2009 47 19 3 Bristol City (loan) 2008—09 24 2 2 Total 2008—2009 24 2 2 Crystal Palace 2009—10 7 0 0 Ipswich Town (loan) 2009—10 0 0 0 Total 2009—present 7 0 0 Career totals 418 144 13

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BlueFinn added 10:23 - Nov 27 Sorry for that bad spell of spelling of mine just above, somments? Whatever they are BUT it just crossed my mind that what a mistake we all made with Darren Ambrose last season. He wasn't firing on all cylinders then because of injuries for 2 years really We could have probably had him for nothing after weeping collectively after him at 18 when he was sold for almost nothing to Bobby's Toon. He always had that shot with him and look at him now. There wasn't anyone among us to raise a voice for him when he was here on loan last season... WE don't deserve better than RK.

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LeadbitterIsBeast added 10:29 - Nov 27 John && Stead Upfront! COYB!
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nobrain added 11:37 - Nov 27 hype313 - where do you get you info from regarding RK having only 2 games left? Not that it would surprise me if it turned out to be the case...
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JayITFC added 12:15 - Nov 27 brockleyblueboy - how can you NOT see us losing to Cardiff!?
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bluechick added 12:36 - Nov 27 Don't get to many games but this means I won't be going until after the defeat by qpr sees roy getting the sack. stern john - what a joke
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chripswich added 15:49 - Nov 27 this is a move of "any port in a storm" with no one else available, but its only a month...its hardly a big risk..and might pay off handsomely...i stress "might" no one loses either way...hes an "option" for a month not a season saver..keane knows that. interesting that hes agreed to come tho..thats quite a few here who've played for keano before..perhaps hes not the ogre everyone thinks he is especially with players that have the right attitude John is a legend in the caribbean..cant see him being one here as hes a bit past it now but if he chips in with a goal or two then thats fine by me... anyone would think weve signed him on a five year deal the way people are being so derisory..hes an option for a month...end of!! chrips :)

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BYRNE_16 added 08:48 - Nov 28 Moan, moan, moan, occasional stats, moan moan! thats all that goes on with you guys. time learn to shut the hell up!
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