Former Blues loanee Ryan Tunnicliffe has joined Wigan Athletic on loan until the end of the season.

Town boss Mick McCarthy was keen to bring the 21-year-old back to Portman Road from Fulham, his previous spell having been cut short at the end of January when he was sold to the Cottagers by Manchester United.

Over the weekend, both the Blues and Latics had been given permission to speak to Tunnicliffe, who made 24 Town starts and five sub appearances without scoring during the first half of the season.

Wigan manager Uwe Rosler says he sees Tunnicliffe as a replacement for Ben Watson, who recently suffered a broken leg: "Ryan is a very promising prospect player who has experience in the Championship, and after we lost Ben, I am delighted we have got someone who is so football-educated, having come through the ranks at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson.

"He is a different type of player from Ben but will definitely add a new dimension to us."

Tunnicliffe says he is looking forward to helping the Latics reach the play-offs: “It’s an exciting new chapter in my career, the new manager at Fulham has allowed me to come here on loan and my aim is to just get out there and play as many games as I possibly can.

“I’m hoping to add a few more to the 60 or so games I’ve played so far at this level and I’m hungry to help the team achieve its aims.

“Being a North West lad I recognise that it’s a great time to be here, especially with the play-off push on right now and I’m just looking forward to playing.

“I know the surroundings at the DW Stadium already having played here for Ipswich earlier on in the season.

“I’m fortunate enough to have played here and got a feel for the place before arriving at the club and I could sense back then that it was a good environment.”

Photo: Action Images

linhdi added 22:08 - Feb 25 Wigan's closer to home so no surprise. I'm fine with our central mid - someone above said zero goals and zero assists from him at Town, which, if true (I can't remember any) means it's no loss. I do want to see Evans back Mick Mac this summer, but Tunnicliffe is not the kind of player to make the big difference.
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blueboy1981 added 22:08 - Feb 25 bluey123 .......... have to say - I share many of your sentiments, but some fans have never seen or experienced the flip side of the coin, therefore have very little to compare with. And it shows !! We have been in this mediocre league far too long - and haven't remotely looked like winning a sausage for so,so long I've forgotten what it's like - even to win a decent Cup Match, and progress (what's that ?). Oh Well - I guess we could be a Portsmouth - small consolation tho' in the grand scheme of things really.

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MickMillsTash added 22:18 - Feb 25 He is never going to be ours so not sure it makes sense to take him back- especially as we have just got Green in. A good enough player but at this stage of the season and what he would offer us back - no goals, limited creativity, no real pace or height- I would rather ITFC save the 5K /week or whatever it is and put it towards next seasons wage bill. A right back, a good wide player ( given that taylor is not going to make it), a centre mid who can score and a fit SEB- bit of luck and we can have a real go.

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Miles added 00:09 - Feb 26 Good grief! You would think we were in a relegation scrap with all the negative comments on here. Compare this season to the last few and you would realise we have made steady progress. We are never going to go from a team fighting to stay in the division to promotion certs the season after. Things take time. Just trust mick and TC to do their thing and stop being so negative. Some people just aren't happy unless they are moaning!

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unknown100 added 00:27 - Feb 26 Tunniclife is doing it spot on, big signing on fee when he wasn't ready for the premiership, loaned out to a good championship team which wouldn't surprise me if they didn't get promoted this season or if not next, will probably play instead of Watson is it who's injured? Sign for them, get another signing on fee then be at a premiership Wigan team when he is ready, clearly he had potential but think he wasn't surrounded by the sort of player he needed to be, I'd have done exactly the same

2

KiwiTractor added 06:44 - Feb 26 Not too bothered by him going elsewhere. But his decision speaks volumes around his thoughts on the club?
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Karlosfandangal added 07:08 - Feb 26 Why on earth has Fulham signed him, unless they are preparing for Championship football as Tuncliffe will have had a season playing at this level. Have to say never saw why we after him again once we had signed Green
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tractorboybig added 07:47 - Feb 26 simple choice. which one is a realistic playoff contender.
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PunchNoHopers added 09:30 - Feb 26 I agree bobwya it was a rule not too long ago, that you can't play for more than 2 clubs in a season. As far as i can see this still applies, at least in the Football league, so am also unable to see how he can play for Wigan, given that he has played for us and Fulham, unless there is some sort of loop hole for Premiership clubs to get round it!
1

WickedBlue added 09:36 - Feb 26 @Ipswich_crazy2011 what makes you think he is an Ipswich supporter? We get several scum supporters on here posing as Ipswich. Seeing a lot of his posts he is probably one of them !
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Hockley added 11:17 - Feb 26 Not worried about losing Tunnicliffe and agree that Green will be good for us with a few games. However my heart sinks when I turn up at Portman Road to find either Tabb or Nouble in the team (even worse both). Priskin played some terrible games for Town but even his worst performance was eclipsed by Tabb against Blackpool and it surely is not unreasonable to expect a big lad like Nouble to win some ball in the air. Let's see Taylor up front with Murphy on Saturday with Hunt, Green, Skuse and Hyam in midfield. We won't be going up or down this season so let's have the loan players (particularly Marriot) back and give them a first team chance.

4

Cheshire_Blue added 11:58 - Feb 26 I can understand why he would want to go to Wigan as he comes from the north west but he at least owes Ipswich and MM an explanation. He is nothing better than we already have and showed very poor judgement in going to Fulham in the first place . He needs to improve an awful lot to be a premiership player and the new man at Fulham obviously realised this very quickly.He is now back at the level he can compete at and in my view he is unlikely to ever be any better than that. Shouldn't we be chasing Connor Wickham now he is available for loan again instead of letting him go to Leeds or Sheff. Wed ?

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dawoolah added 13:06 - Feb 26 Good call Cheshire_Blue Not bothered about Tunners not coming back here and can understand Wigan being a better choice for him as its closer to home
1

Seasider added 13:23 - Feb 26 Bet Elizabeth was surprised to get minus 15,normally gives measured thoughts and pluses. Seems like many of us she is now getting fed up with the negative footy we have had to endure this season at home especially. It is galling to be unable to compete with a team like Wigan anymore but geography played a large part I guess.Also the fact that they have a better Manager than us,and a Chairman that loves the club and is Wigan through and through.Not sure this applies to us anymore unfortunately.

3

TR11BLU added 14:25 - Feb 26 Wouldnt it be ironic if he comes back here in a fortnight for wigan and scores!
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Samuelowen88 added 15:03 - Feb 26 Wickham has joined Leeds on loan. Cant help but feel we missed out on a big chance there
3

Elizabeth added 16:17 - Feb 26 No one of any quality wants to come here anymore. Lost all the pulling power ....How depressing !!
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warktheline added 17:05 - Feb 26 Elizabeth where's your logic.
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Elizabeth added 17:12 - Feb 26 My logic is where we're at .. Not rocket science !!
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PunchNoHopers added 17:19 - Feb 26 Agree Samuelowen88 feel also we missed it big time could have just scored the goals to slip us in the to the final Play-off position and not end up another season just in mid-table. Also agree too Cheshire_Blue
1

wychyblue added 17:42 - Feb 26 Taking Connor Wickham and also Jack Butland on lone obviously shows that Leeds intend to make a serious push for the promised land . Nice bit of excitement to the end of the season and also a positive lift for the club. I would expect them to finish above us also but we are where we are and mid table is about the correct position in the league with what we've got. Get behind the boys and hope for the best.

3

WhoisJimmyJuan added 18:08 - Feb 26 I get so frustrated at some of hte bickering on here. People need to think about each other's points of view a bit. I for one am pleased we are not in a relegation scrap and are hard to beat. That is real progress. BUT: I am well aware we play some cr4p football which is driving fans away. I don't go to many games, but I respect the views of those who are fed up at the moment because I suspect many are those who suffer paying a fortune to watch dross. Plus it is also fair to say we are not bringing the youngsters through in any quantity or quality. So I would say SOME progress has been made but there is still a lot to improve on. Bit more patience and understanding all round I say. But feel free to deride my sanctimonious drivel too if you wish! I do not pretend to be right but I have a sense of humour!

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Lord_Mac added 19:01 - Feb 26 From his point of view it makes perfect sense - young player finding his way, needs to get as wide an experience as possible. We don't own him, so why should he see it from our point of view? He did OK while here and the arrangement suited both parties. That's what loans are for.
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Lord_Mac added 19:01 - Feb 26 From his point of view it makes perfect sense - young player finding his way, needs to get as wide an experience as possible. We don't own him, so why should he see it from our point of view? He did OK while here and the arrangement suited both parties. That's what loans are for.
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Cloddyseedbed added 19:04 - Feb 26 WhoisJimmyJuan.I think that's a pretty good summary of what's going on and how people feel right now and I am someone who goes to all the home games and have done since the 60's. When McCarthy 1st arrived one of his 1st tasks was to get moral back amongst the squad that kept loosing and kept loosing badly. He did this by quickly seeing that some players were playing out of position and started putting round pegs in round holes. The team stabilised, confidence and belief came back and McCarthy did what no one thought was possible, he kept us up. Now players seem to have started to be played out of position again just to fit them in the team and I think moral and confidence has suffered. Things are definitely not helped by picking certain players that do not seem up to the job that is being asked of them. It's anybody's guess who the team will be on Saturday but Nouble will probably be the 1st name on the team sheet.

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