Town have completed the loan signing of Celtic defender Darren O'Dea until January. Bhoys boss Neil Lennon first revealed that the 23-year-old was set for Portman Road on Saturday.

Irish international O'Dea, who had a spell with Reading last season, will be with the Blues until January 17th.

The 6ft 1in tall Dubliner, primarily a left-sided central defender but also able to operate at full-back, played youth football with local club Home Park, moving on to Celtic when a teenager. While at Parkhead he played alongside Blues boss Roy Keane and skippered the side on occasion last season.

O’Dea, who has two full caps and nine at U21 level, was previously linked with the Blues in 2008 during Jim Magilton’s time as manager, although the reports were dismissed by the Northern Irishman.

The Blues new signing, who is contracted to Celtic until June 2012, is set to train with his new team-mates on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, new skipper David Norris has told the club site that despite the decent first week of the season, it's too early to start eyeing a play-off place: "It's our aim, of course but we spoke so much about it last season.

"We have had a good start to the season but we are only one week in and we're certainly not getting carried away.

"If we are up near the top after 15 games or so then maybe I will start thinking and talking about it then, but not before."

Photo: Action Images

bluewein added 19:21 - Aug 17 Yay. Now watch the signings flock in!
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Marcus added 19:24 - Aug 17 Welcome Darren! I guess Smith going on his travels for internationals and then, perhaps, needing a rest means if he is a bit jaded after all that (as Keane suggests) justifies having an extra defender. Still I don't see the centre of defence as being an 'at need' position but any improvement in depth at the moment is welcome. I don't know much about O'Dea and wonder how he compares to other squad members.

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kerryblue added 19:26 - Aug 17 Handy squad player to have around.Im suprised Clegg did manage to do something without making a BA))s of it like everything else hes involved with.Welcome aboard Darren
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bluehook added 19:29 - Aug 17 My old chum at work is a Celtic supporter, and he really rates him. Really full blooded defending, and versatile enough for full back. Well done Keano and welcome Darren.
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bluewein added 19:31 - Aug 17 P.S Welcome aboard Darren.
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Back_The_Boss added 19:35 - Aug 17 Decent signing, it's not a season long loan then, only till January 17th.
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WadzillaBhoy added 19:35 - Aug 17 COYB! & Mon the Hoops!
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meekreech added 19:35 - Aug 17 Still do not see need for another defender as we are well covered with Brown Smith Eastman it is the other end which needs the extras !!!! We cannot rely on Wickham to give us the goals we need as he is still only a lad learning his trade and may not be available all season . It is all very well bringing in the players who have come as they give cover and size to the squad but do not address the problem of GOALS !!!!!!!

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WadzillaBhoy added 19:37 - Aug 17 @meekreech Kennedy is injured and O'Dea plays left back as well as left centre half...Good signing in my eyes
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tipperarykeano added 19:41 - Aug 17 keano`s beginning to get his own team together......posted last season....give keano time and he will deliver !!
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RetroBlue added 19:44 - Aug 17 Just get the bloody striker in Clegg ffs !
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Tractor_Boy_002 added 19:48 - Aug 17 @meekreech. If wickham is still learning his trade then surely so are brown and eastman. Considering we have been very unlucky with injuries this is a good signing as you dont want inexperienced 18 year olds coming into the team at desisive moments in the season, the more cover we get the better!
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meekreech added 20:09 - Aug 17 The point I tried to make is that we should be spending more time and effort in getting the strikers we need with cover as a secondary part of the trading . Yes it is good to have the extra cover but it still does not help us with our need for goals . Having watched Brown and Eastman against Spurs they look to be ready to step up and do the job .
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Mark added 20:48 - Aug 17 He will give us another option in defence and may prove a worthwhile signing. However, I thought O'Dea wanted a loan move to play first team football. Does this mean he will replace Smith? If so, that is very harsh on Tommy and may hinder his development. O'Dea is another player Keane has either played with or managed, just like our other summer signings Fulop, Kennedy and Hourihane. There is nothing wrong in that per se, but when every signing is someone he knows personally that does ring alarm bells about our scouting network. Why are we not brining in players from the continent and the lower leagues? We seem to only buy/loan from top side, meaning big wages and often deals that fall through. STRIKERS PLEASE!!

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WadzillaBhoy added 21:02 - Aug 17 Once again he will get first team football Kennedy is injured! Without O'Dea we'd have one first team LB. O'Connor will be cover.
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Barhamblue added 21:07 - Aug 17 @meekreech. Yes we need a striker but be patient my friend! With regards to goals. 3 games = 7 goals, how do we complain about that, don't tell you want 3 per game. Keep believing we'll be just fine. Keano
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featherhead added 21:11 - Aug 17 Sorry to say this does not seem a good loan, I dare say he will be on silly money !!! I don't actually know the player however what is wrong with Tommy Smith and the other youths.
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BlueJewells added 21:56 - Aug 17 I don't know what to say never heard of him
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robdaful added 22:08 - Aug 17 How about him just being cover for defence. And left midfield with Townsend on the right instead of Walters. Or the 3rd option of covering Hyam's holding midfielder as Hyam can't play every game. Welcome aboard. Good signing. Some people will always find a negative. Need a striker tho.
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dubblue added 22:25 - Aug 17 O'Dea is a useful addition, but it's up front we are lacking! Would have preferred the loan to last the full season.
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blueisblue added 22:37 - Aug 17 Yes don't you think we need more fire power up front with pablo and walters also stead out of sorts.
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Pessimistic added 23:06 - Aug 17 I think we will have to call ourselves Ipswich Irish soon. It seems that if you ain't Irish and have not either played for Sunderland or with Keane at some time, then your chances of joining Ipswich Irish are virtually zilch. And we thought Tragic was bad!
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northernblues added 23:29 - Aug 17 although i will keep judgement till he has played a few games, i cannot help but think O'Dea will find his opposition in championship is of a better quality than that in the spl!
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blaggers added 23:31 - Aug 17 Quality Headline. Some players names just lend themselves to good headlines.
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BluePG added 23:53 - Aug 17 If we captured Rooney, Kaka and Ronaldo, folk would still moan on here. It's depressing. And it is 'should have', 'could have' and 'would have'. Not 'of'. Seven goals in three games. Undefeated. Moan, moan, moan. Back the new signing and the manager. Is this not a supporters board?
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