Manager Mick McCarthy says trialist Eoin Wearen spending time with Town benefits both parties. The 21-year-old centre-half has played in the Blues' last three U21 matches.

Irish U17 and U19 international Wearen, who can also play in central midfield, was released by West Ham in the summer without breaking into the senior side, having joined them from St Kevin’s Boys in Dublin in 2008 when Town were also interested in him joining their academy.

A keen Gaelic footballer as a youngster, Wearen spent time on loan at Dagenham and Redbridge in 2011/12, making one start and three sub appearances.

“He’s been at West Ham and he had a cruciate ligament injury,” McCarthy said. “He’s just rehabbing and he’s come in and played with us.

“It’s kind of a symbiotic deal actually, because he’s getting training with us and playing games, and he’s helping our U21s and filling in. He’s OK, he’s done all right.”

McCarthy says he’s yet to decide whether to offer the Dubliner a longer term stay at Portman Road: “I’m weighing it up.”

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