Town have confirmed the signing of Leicester City striker Chris Wood on loan for the rest of the season with the Foxes able to recall him at 24 hours' notice after the first 28 days.

The 23-year-old, who has been handed the number 39 shirt and trained with the squad this morning ahead of Sunday's derby at Norwich, had been linked with the Blues since early last month with Wolves and Reading both having shown interest in the last few days, while AFC Bournemouth and Sheffield Wednesday were previously understood to have been keen to add him to their squads for the run-in.

Wood, Tommy Smith’s room-mate when they are on international duty with New Zealand, hasn't started for the Foxes since their promotion to the Premier League, having scored eight goals last season, four in the Championship, four in the Capital One Cup.

Born in Auckland, Wood started his British career with West Brom, spending time out on loan with Barnsley, Brighton, Birmingham, Bristol City, Millwall and Leicester before joining the Foxes permanently for £2 million in January 2013.

Wood's last senior action was a 30-minute sub appearance in the 1-0 FA Cup win over Newcastle on January 3rd and the 6ft 2in tall frontman returned to training after an ankle injury earlier in the week.

Town boss Mick McCarthy has been keen to add another striker to his squad with Noel Hunt probably out for the season with a knee injury, while David McGoldrick has missed the last four matches with a thigh problem.

The Blues also struggled when without target man Daryl Murphy in the recent game against Wigan.

Photo: Action Images

NorseBlue added 11:38 - Feb 27 What a fabulous signing. Let's hope he scores a few goals starting at our nearest and (not so) dearest. COYB!!!!
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BillBlue added 11:40 - Feb 27 OK now let usall hope he gives Tommy a nice big boost!
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tractorfact added 11:40 - Feb 27 welcome, score against the yellow and you will be a legend big boost for us ahead of Sunday
2

loyal_Blue added 11:43 - Feb 27 Brilliant! Great signing. Another striker that can score!! Let's hope him , Murphy and Sears score a few on Sunday ! COYB!
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Len_Brennan added 11:43 - Feb 27 Good work there Mick. We needed the lift of a good signing after some disappointing results lately & the top of the league getting all bunched up again. One team (Derby, most likely) could easily pull away with a run of 4 or 5 wins, while similarly a team could drop away with a run of 4 or 5 without a win.
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TheSelkirk added 11:46 - Feb 27 So excited - got Wood...
12

JimmyJazz added 11:47 - Feb 27 Mick: I've got Wood. That would have been a much better headline
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GerkensBeard added 11:48 - Feb 27 Great signing this is. Front 3 of Sears, Wood and the leagues top scorer Murph is mouthwatering. And to those who said why haven't we strengthened? Well we bought sears in and has been our best player I'm recent games whether he's scoring or not and now we've signed Chris Wood! Would have to assume we will go back to 4-3-3 as Wood hasn't come to sit on the bench
2

Geoff added 11:53 - Feb 27 Come on Chris this will really add to our options up front lets go all out attack at carrot road.
3

muccletonjoe added 11:54 - Feb 27 Happy days
3

mikeybloo88 added 11:55 - Feb 27 Certainly, in theory, a cut above other strikers we have seen turn out for this season i.e. Varney, Sammon, Bajnic,Nouble
3

Michael11 added 11:55 - Feb 27 Great stuff! I'd really like to see us go back to 4-3-3 as it's the formation which has taken us this high and we just don't have good enough wingers to play 4-4-2. A front 3 of Murphy, Sears and Wood is very strong and can't wait to see how they link up. Slightly worried that McGoldrick's injury appears to be much worse than McCarthy's letting on though
5

blueherts added 11:57 - Feb 27 Sears and Wood great signings and dont forget Chaplow and Varney - A good month - Now last minute winner on Sunday Lunch and we will all have Wood
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blueblood66 added 11:57 - Feb 27 Get in!
2

Sidemen added 12:00 - Feb 27 Great signing, another big man up top! Leicester fans are not happy Pearson has let him go, they seem to think he is a great striker so hopefully Wood can prove them right against Norwich! This signing suggests to me that McCarthy is looking at playing a 433, Murph and Wood up top with Sears sitting just behind maybe? Let's not forget we've got a great striker on the sidelines in McGoldrick who on his day will score for fun as well!

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oncebluealwaysblue added 12:06 - Feb 27 All those suggesting he'll go straight into the starting 11 tomorrow, I doubt it.
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truckertractorboy added 12:10 - Feb 27 Going to b interesting to c wat mick picks for sunday wat little we see of chaplow on tuesday he has chucked his name in the mix as well
5

oldegold added 12:13 - Feb 27 Wood MM lie to us ?
2

Tractamatt added 12:17 - Feb 27 Do we have an idea about his contract situation with Leicester
0

alfromcol added 12:20 - Feb 27 no negative comments, that could be a first!
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PJH added 12:21 - Feb 27 I do not think he will be in starting 11 tomorrow either onceblue, because we are playing on Sunday. In all seriousness though, I imagine he will be on the bench. Quite a squad we have now though.
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bedsitfc added 12:35 - Feb 27 Yipee
2

gmanrom added 12:36 - Feb 27 Now bag a decent winger and i would be very confident of being right up there
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bobble added 12:43 - Feb 27 a bunch of kiwis and paddys couldnt get us up could they ? we will all get wood if they do...
1

bluesince84 added 12:43 - Feb 27 Great signing but....... We will not play 443 , no more than we have in the past 10 weeks. It will be 442 with tabb and bloody Anderson ( although I concede he had a good game Tuesday , first time in 3 months ) wood will be on bench , we will try to nullify the scum not attack and wood will come on after 70 mins. Down arrow me all you want , but ask yourself, do you really expect us to go 433 all out attack.... Really??......

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