Striker Rory Fallon has revealed that Blues boss Roy Keane reminds him of his father. Fallon, on loan from Plymouth with a view to a permanent switch, assisted Town’s first two goals in Saturday’s sub-polar 3-0 victory over Leicester City.

New Zealand international Fallon, who has now made two starts and two sub appearances for the Blues, says words of encouragement from Keane have been a boost: "He's given me some praise and that's given me some confidence. You can tell he watches every move you make.

"He reminds me of my dad actually, the fierceness of him. He's got that look, you know, that glare. There's so much passion for the game inside Roy, he's been a breath of fresh air for me.

"I've only just broken into the first team,” he continued. “What I need to do now is keep myself in the team, allow the lads to understand how I play and just put some chances away.”

Keane was impressed with the 28-year-old’s performance against Leicester, but concedes his recruitment may have surprised many fans: “Rory did well. Rory gives us something different.

“I know people have been raising eyebrows since we brought the boy into the club. He’s come in for five or six weeks and let’s give the boy a chance. He’s something a little bit different.”

The Blues boss says he needed to add to his attacking options with so many frontmen having left: “I’ve been digesting a lot of stuff about the club over the last few days and from what we had last year we’re so lacking in strikers it’s untrue, particularly with Connor having been injured for most of the season.

“There’s no Stead, no Walters, Lisbie, Pablo. They were all Ipswich Town players, whether they were here last year or out on loan.

“Rory’s here to give us something a little bit different. He seems a nice, genuine kid and I think he’s doing an honest job. I didn’t think he did badly in the first half last week either. The players are getting to know him, we took a few gambles off his knock downs against Leicester.”

Fallon is hoping to do enough to persuade Keane make his move permanent: "I realise Plymouth are struggling for cash and they probably needed to get me off the books. I'm still on loan and this thing isn't 100% on, it really depends on my performances. But he's not expecting miracles of me, just to do what I usually do.

"The way Plymouth are going, they're absolutely struggling for cash and it looks like they could be going into administration, so I think they're going to try and sell all their main assets.

"We'll see, I'm just taking one day at a time. You just don't know what will happen in football and all I can do is take each day as it comes and give this opportunity 100% because if that's not enough, at least I know I can go away happy."

Fallon, who has scored three goals in 10 games for New Zealand including all three matches at the World Cup, is yet to open his account with the Blues and admits that he will have to increase his hit-rate if he is to fulfil his ambition of playing in the Premier League: "Target men like me will always get stick because they don't score goals every game.

“They're usually the ones that other people play off, often sitting deeper to flick on. I don't think a lot of people really know what the position of a target man is all about.

"But the difference between a Premier League striker and a Championship striker is goals. Until I start scoring a lot of goals it will be tough to get into the Premier League. That's what it's all about. I know I can play in the Premier League because I've played against those guys before. "

The born-again Christian says his New Zealand team-mate Tommy Smith played a part in his move to Portman Road: "Roy asked Tommy about me and he put in a good word.

“It's great to be around Tommy, he's a really good lad and we really get on. Tommy's family have invited me and my wife to their Christmas meal. They've also done my washing!

"Tommy and I hang out a bit at his place and play PlayStation, it's just been brilliant. It's good to be back with him, as well as a couple of the other lads who I also knew before I came here.

“I'm here until January 22nd, that's when the loan expires. Then it's up to Roy, whether he wants to extend the loan to the end of the season or buy me in January when the transfer window opens again."

Skipper David Norris briefly played with Fallon during his spell with Argyle and says he gives Town something different up front: “We didn’t cross-over for too long but I played a few games with him and I know what he’s all about. Because he’s good in the air, it’s about trying to read his flick-ons and holding up of the ball.

“I think he gives us something different, an aerial threat. We’ve got Jason Scotland who can drop in and hold the ball up and turn and bring other players into play, but Rory gives us the aerial threat. He’s not just good at flicking things on, he can chest things down and bring other players into play as well.”

Photo: Action Images

Suffolk_n_Good added 07:38 - Dec 21 You must have had a bloody hard childhood then Rory!
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Back_The_Boss added 07:40 - Dec 21 "He's got that look, you know, that glare!" - Quality!
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nthstd added 07:43 - Dec 21 He worked very hard and is to be commened for that. As for Phils use of the Phrase "Sub Polar" - What are you like man? It was warmer than half the other games I've been to in recent weeks! And posting this at 7am would imply he crafted this journalistic wiz in the early hours of the morning or was it crafted in the warmth of Woodbridge's Starbucks with a double skinny latte with extra choco bits and a muffin at 3pm yesterday! Oh those clever journo types!

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JohnScales added 07:47 - Dec 21 I like most were unsure what he would bring but he seems to be doing well. Let's just hopes he adds goals to his play then we'd be laughing. I have one gripe to both Rory and Tommy. Playstation!! Xbox is were it's at.
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slowerball added 07:50 - Dec 21 A very decent loan signing. He did well in the 1st half at PNE and set two goals up during that blizzard - he's done well I think. More impact in less time than Priskin. Nowt wrong with having a target man, he's experienced and let's hope he scores first against Watford (if only to allow my bet & score prediction to come home).
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readtheleaguetable added 08:10 - Dec 21 Luke and Darth: "Rory, I am your faaaather"
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PSGBlue added 08:31 - Dec 21 He has a father in Keane and a brother in Tommy Smith, sounds like he is getting his feet under the table. He didn't do too bad in the snow but we need a lot more from a striker than Fallon has got to offer. "There is no Stead, no Walters, Lisbie, Pablo" I wonder why that is Keane!
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truckertractorboy added 08:49 - Dec 21 Where has priskin gone does anyone know aint heard anything about injury. The jury is still out on mr fallon he looked good ish in the snow but if he dont score it just puts pressure on the rest of the team
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kentblue added 08:57 - Dec 21 If Kenae is like your dad Fallon , I pity your mum ! As for Priskin I guess he has been banished by the mad Irishman . He said on Sky he,( Keane ), has been" too nice " to players ! As if ... The man should have walked/been sacked long ago but unfortunately he seems to have been saved for the short term by the snow .
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Karlosfandangal added 08:59 - Dec 21 PSGBlue Am I read your post wrong or do you feel we should have kept Stead Walters Lisbie and Pablo? For me Lisbie was never going to make it and never knew why we brought him, Pablo some great memories but has now had his day and was right to let go, Wlaters started off great but became an average player because him wanted away from the club and really in the end gave Keane no other choice, you can have a player who thinks he is bigger than the manager. As for Stead he was very hit and miss for me but always gave what he had as he proved at the begin of the season, I got the feeling Keane had to get rid before he could buy and Stead was one of the scarifies. Think Scotland will prove to be a better buy than Stead. Get the feeling that if Keane wants new players in Jan he will have to sell, I think he has a wage cap he must keep under and we are close to that now.

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Karlosfandangal added 09:03 - Dec 21 truckertractorboy Did the Leicester report say that there was no place for Virus victims Townsend and Priskin. Maybe he has this virus that everyone has at the moment?
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truckertractorboy added 09:38 - Dec 21 Good point I forgot about that point about him having a virus thanks
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dobbie73 added 09:44 - Dec 21 Karlosfandangal - pretty good summing up of our (not yet dearly) departed strikers there! Can't really disagree, but I do sometimes wish we still had Stead out of all that lot - he did offer something, just a bit inconsistent I feel. Starting to like the look of Fallon. He worked hard against Leicester and was instrumental in our attacking play. Let's see how he goes in the next few games, and maybe he will be worth keeping on after Jan. If Plymouth are in dire straits, I don't reckon he will cost too much as they will just want to offload.

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bobble added 09:44 - Dec 21 i think they are related alright because the coincidence is uncanny both have a success rate of about 1 in 7
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blueblood66 added 09:48 - Dec 21 I read this somewhere else the other day, nice piece of reproduction TWTD
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Tillz9 added 09:49 - Dec 21 I must admit I was less than impressed by the signing of Fallon. However he played very well against Leicester. If he keeps playing like that he would be a usefull addition. Unfortunately he will never score a lot of goals but if he can keep up the assists and get 6/7 by end of season I think he would have been worthwhile.
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blue_em_away added 10:46 - Dec 21 Tillz9.... Agreed. It is a team game.
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Karlosfandangal added 10:54 - Dec 21 Dobbie73 Agree would have like to kept Stead, Fallon looked good against Leicester, and might be the player Scotland need to become the scoring machine he was at Swansea, and maybe Priskin and Wickham will be a good pairing, but who to play? Fallon might help us out of this slump, however I dont feel he is the long term answer, However the lad needs a chance and has only played a couple of games so who know's Priskin is so much better this year than last, but for me we do need someone to put the ball in the net and Priskin is not that man, some lovely play and works hard for the team but not the 20 a season man we so badly need.

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jas0999 added 11:06 - Dec 21 I have to say I was less than impressed when we signed Fallon. I still don't think he will score a lot of goals BUT his performance on Saturday was excellent. He set up two goals and his hold up play was very good. Great to have a striker who wins a lot in the air!
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petermorris added 11:06 - Dec 21 Best buddies Rory (28) and Tommy Smith 'play Playstation' together while Mrs WAG Smith does Rory's flippin washing. Bet Keano isn't the only one with a glare on.
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East_of_England added 11:27 - Dec 21 No thanks to Lisbie, Pablo, Walters and Stead. Jon Stead, 6ft 3in...and yet to score a header or at least win a challange... Would rather have kept Danny Haynes!
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BrettenhamBlue added 12:09 - Dec 21 He's played reasonably well so far. Starting to win over the fans early which is a good sign. Still think we need a Chopra.
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bluebrit added 12:14 - Dec 21 With a father like Roy I might be tempted to travel to the other side of the world! Having said that I think Fallon's done fairly well so far but his goal-scoring record is a concern. It may be he works well with Scotland and Scotland scores the goals. I still think it's strange that Priskin is dropped just when he shows the skills that we waited all last year to see!

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petermorris added 12:26 - Dec 21 Agree with bluebrit, Priskin was just beginning to show why he's a Hungarian international, & I STILL think Rhodes was sold too easily/quickly - there's got to be more to the reasons given for both these players being axed...
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Mark added 12:48 - Dec 21 Fallon did indeed play well against Leicester. It really will be against the odds if he comes good for Ipswich though, coming from a League One club at the age of 28 with the manager of that club admitting he wasn't a fans favourite. Apparently he was kept out of the Swindon team by Sam Parkin! I appreciate the contribution a good target man can make, but he does need to score goals too. According to Wiki, Fallon's league record is 66 goals in 323 games (1 goal per 5 games) and 19 in 130 games (1 goal per 7 games) for Plymouth. Up the road, Norwich's target man Grant Holt had a scoring ratio of 1-in-2 at Shrewsbury and has kept this going at Norwich. How come they have someone like that and we do not? Holt cost £1.1M less than Priskin I believe! There must be decent goalscoring target men in the lower leagues who we can look to.

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