Town expect to complete the loan signing of Blackburn striker Luke Varney in time to go into the squad facing Reading at Portman Road on Saturday, we understand.

The Blues are short of strikers with Noel Hunt having picked up a knee injury which is set to sideline him for at least a few games - although Town are still to confirm the length of his absence - and with David McGoldrick having missed the last two matches with a thigh problem.

Football League clubs can sign players on loans of up to 93 days with a deal done this weekend meaning a loanee could stay until the Championship play-off final on Monday 25th May.

Varney, who was initially mentioned in connection with a move to Town earlier in the week, is out of favour at Ewood Park and was close to a move to Millwall prior to the transfer window closing. Brighton and Sheffield Wednesday also understood to have shown interest.

The 32-year-old started his career with Crewe and has subsequently had spells with Charlton, Derby, Sheffield Wednesday, Blackpool, Portsmouth and Leeds before joining Rovers in the summer following a loan at the end of last season.

The Leicester-born 5ft 11in tall striker has made only one start - in the Capital One Cup in August - and 13 sub appearances during 2014/15.

Meanwhile, Reading will have Michael Hector back at the centre of their defence on Saturday, the 22-year-old having recovered from a leg injury.

Photo: Action Images

wilnis_barmy_army added 15:35 - Feb 19 I remember similar criticism before hunt signed! Looking forward to varneys winner on Saturday
4

Count_Arthur added 15:36 - Feb 19 Agree with ParkinsHair. I have no problem with opinions (critical or otherwise) on players who are performing, or not, week in week out for the team, but this poor chap hasn't kicked a ball for us yet - give the man a chance to prove himself first, I'm sure that what Mick is doing? Welcome to the club Luke!
9

PJH added 15:41 - Feb 19 I hope we are not waiting until 95th minute to win it on saturday wilnis but you are exactly right about N Hunt.
3

stinkiusminkius added 15:44 - Feb 19 Let's hope he's more Noël Hunt than Connor Sammon.
1

ITFCRealist added 15:54 - Feb 19 Oh dear. Barrel well and truly scraped to quote a gentleman higher up the page. Is it perhaps that good football players don't want to play for Mick, as he doesn't play good football? Simple, we should have signed Bent. Imagine Bent and Murphy together, with the under-peforming McGoldrick benched. Now thats top 2. Add Williams in behind, and you have Championship winners. But no, Mick knows better.

1

Beattiesballbag added 16:00 - Feb 19 nhabo : that was a perfectly good goal poor old tabby had disallowed ! walberswicks: I hope you didn't hurt yourself laughing when you found that clip!
1

PJH added 16:06 - Feb 19 ITFCRealist-what a very disappointing winter you have been having, with nothing to say since we lost at Cardiff.
1

Michael11 added 16:08 - Feb 19 People need to relax a little with this one. Does anyone expect him to be ahead of Murphy, McGoldrick and Sears in the pecking order? I can't see this being any more than back up while Noel Hunt regains fitness. Although it's not an inspiring signing, I'll give him a chance to prove himself before judging him.
3

StowTractorBoy added 16:09 - Feb 19 There is no way on earth that we can afford to pay the salaries for the likes of Darren Bent. He must have been on over £20K a week at Villa something Derby are gambling on and we sensibly are not. Derby get gates near 30,000 now and we still struggle to get over 20,000 on a regular basis. As for Jack Marriott, how many people on here have actually seen him play - sadly the boy is nowhere near Championship standards so in Luke Varney we will have a player who will give his all so lets get behind the guy.

5

ITFCRealist added 16:09 - Feb 19 Actually a pleasant winter thanks Mr PJH. Its been remarkably idiot free until today.
-1

NoelTheDub added 16:16 - Feb 19 On this one I welcome Luke Varney to our club maybe not my or others first choice but hes here to give us a dig out.He has to be aware that hes going to play from the bench at this moment and we have to respect the guy if he signs for us under this case.Maybe this is the reason other named guys didnt want to come and fight for there place also money has to be an issue.Good luck pal if you join and hope it works out...

7

Beattiesballbag added 16:16 - Feb 19 Leicester is next to Leeds in Micks contacts & when they answered he asked if Vardy was available .
1

BlueandTruesince82 added 16:19 - Feb 19 Bent is on 40-45k a week at villa and I am told, from a strong source that Derby are picking up 30k plus of that. We couldnt sign him even if we wanted too. Simple.
4

brittaniaman added 16:30 - Feb 19 I did hear that Darren Bent was on £40K at Villa so Derby are coughing up a lot of extra wages with Ince and Lingard as well ????? they will certainly need that 30,000 gate ???
1

TractorBeezer added 16:31 - Feb 19 Welcome to Portman Road Luke. I wish you a successful and enjoyable stay here.
5

rickw added 16:32 - Feb 19 We could afford Bent short term - the money we'll get in the Summer through promotion or selling Mings would easily cover it. However I don't think Bent would fit in with Mick's work ethic and Sears may be a better long term solution, however I am underwhelmed with signing Varney, but I guess he's here to be 4th/5th choice striker, so at least he provides a little competition to those strikers who aren't injured.

1

Geoff added 16:34 - Feb 19 Yes Warktheline i remember also the one on ones he missed not our best times.
0

clint_eastwood added 16:43 - Feb 19 Not sure about this one. I'd rather have Parr as our back-up striker.
0

BlueandTruesince82 added 16:53 - Feb 19 shekking out 30 odd k a week for Bent would raise some eyebrows in the rest of the squad though wouldnt it?
3

mojo added 16:54 - Feb 19 I can't really see what all the fuss is about. We are down to 3 strikers at the moment, including McGoldrick whose fitness is in question. We need options. He is going to be on low wages, he might score 1 or 2, set a couple up or win us a penalty. I'm sure more money is available for an attacking midfielder, williams or otherwise.
2

StirlingArcher added 16:54 - Feb 19 Right folks.... Go through the team list of the current squad: Bart - WHO was happy when he signed?.... hands up.... no one. Now who is currently happy with our big beared polish goalkeeper? Mings - on signing "why bother?" response. now look at him. Berra - "wolves reject" - arguably best CB in league now... Chambers - "Forest reject" - now he is captain marvel!!! and swears when he wants to... Parr - I definitely recall "underwhelmed" style responses, again - he is playing brilliantly. Bru - "oh joy, another free..." Skuse - not exactly enamoured Murphy - old, slow, can't score... 21 goals so far this season... McGoldrick - waste of time, can't score etc.... noel hunt - "crap, not scored in 2 years...." 3 goals later... Do you people ALL have crystal balls? if so, return them, cos they are as accurate as a DNA test in norfolk.... Get behind the management and the team. oh and worst of all = "no signings on deadline day is no ambition" when we'd signed 3 players earlier in the window so we weren't fighting for scraps or overpaying. some of you make me ashamed to be a Tractor Boy

12

Bluetone added 16:58 - Feb 19 I would rather we had signed Manto Varney.
0

warktheline added 17:00 - Feb 19 @geoff, must be my over optimistic personality! Tend to enjoy and remember the vital goals he did score! Oh well, he was crap then?
0

tractorgrl added 17:01 - Feb 19 Are you married StirlingArcher?
0

karls_dad added 17:07 - Feb 19 Sadly its looking very much like Mc Goldrick is a finished now, he has not been the same since the injury last year, a shadow of the player he was! it may be that injury has placed a rather large nail in his career! Murphy is playing his heart out but he is no spring chicken and may soon be running out of steam, its been a hard season for him, and age plays a major factor in performance season long. Hopefully young Sears has the legs and desire to keep the momentum rolling, but i too am less than inspired by this signing, he has not set the world on fire through his career to date, but then again MM must see something we do not?

3

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls