Town have confirmed the signing of Crystal Palace’s Jonny Williams for a third loan spell and have also added his Eagles team-mate Zeki Fryers to the squad.

Williams, 21, returns to the Blues for a third spell having been at Portman Road last season and having had an earlier stint with Town this season curtailed by a groin injury from which he has only just returned to training.

Although clubs are not allowed to take a player on two emergency loans in the same season, in situations such as Williams’s where a player had a spell cut short by injury then clause 53.3.12* of the Football League rules allows that loan to be restarted at the point the injury was suffered.

We understand Williams has 53 days of his spell remaining which will take him to the play-off semi-finals but means he would miss the final if Town make it to Wembley.

Town fought off interest from Wolves, Fulham and Watford to sign the midfielder for the third time.

Williams made four starts and one sub appearance, scoring one goal, between September and November before suffering a groin injury in the 1-0 home victory against Watford after a wild Joel Ekstrand challenge.

Last season, the Pembury-born player made 11 starts and two sub appearances, scoring one goal between February and May.

Left-back Fryers, 22, joined Palace from Tottenham for £5 million in the summer having previously been with Manchester United and Standard Liege.

The Mancunian, who has made only one sub appearance for the Eagles, has already spent time on loan with Rotherham this year and faced the Blues in one of his 10 appearances.

The 6ft tall defender, who will be with Town for the rest of the season, has been capped by England at U16, U17 and U19 levels.

The Blues are in need of cover at full-back with Tyrone Mings suspended for the next two games having amassed 10 bookings and Jonny Parr having missed the game at Watford with a minor knock and having played in midfield in recent weeks.

*53.3.12 The Executive shall have discretion to extend the maximum duration of 93 days for an Emergency Loan in extenuating circumstances, such circumstances to be determined in the Executive’s absolute discretion.

Photo: Action Images

bostonusablue added 17:41 - Mar 26 Wonderful news on Williams, but will he replace Tabby on the left???
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DebsyAngel added 17:44 - Mar 26 YEEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!! At last!
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Warkys_Tash added 17:53 - Mar 26 GET IN!!!! JUST WHAT WE NEED... SHAME ABOUT THE PLAY-FINAL BUT MAYBE WE WONT NEED IT IF WE CAN TURN OVER BOURNEMOUTH... WELL DONE MICK AND MARCUS..
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Warkys_Tash added 17:58 - Mar 26 Cheeky bid by Watford, having targeted him for some rough treatment at PR...
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Gforce added 18:01 - Mar 26 Here'ssssssssssssssssss Jonny.
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Gforce added 18:04 - Mar 26 Here'sssssssssssssssssss Jonny.
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Guthrum added 18:09 - Mar 26 Awesome!
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toxtethblue added 18:11 - Mar 26 Lets hope that referees actually protect him this time and dont idely allow him to be kicked to kingdom come and out of the game!!
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BlueandTruesince82 added 18:13 - Mar 26 Jonniesta ta ta ta ta! Yes, yes, yes and YES. As for Freyers I know v little about him, good pedigree though and decent cover.
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oldegold added 18:17 - Mar 26 Good to have Jonny Williams back!
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HALLSJ added 18:17 - Mar 26 Fantastic news
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casanovacrow added 18:29 - Mar 26 Nice to see Marcus Evans put some money out there on quality again, albeit on loans. Must be hard to risk with how Jewell and Keane wasted it before.
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tommyfleet added 18:29 - Mar 26 absolute class! the mixture of being able to play through the middle with Williams and sears and being able to play long ball will be deadly! this creates our plan B when long ball dosent work! great signing MM
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Razor added 18:35 - Mar 26 Top two is now really on and well done to Mr Owner for delivering as he said he would. If we could just get Didds back and playing with the right attitude we could all be playing premiership footy next year. Can not wait for Easter---BRING IT ON!!
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superkevinwilson added 18:36 - Mar 26 Get the f.ck in. Well done mick!
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blueherts added 18:50 - Mar 26 A squad containing JW , Sears , Dids , Bish has something about it I like !! well done Loving the JW and welcome Zeki - no nothing about you so just welcome !!!
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blueherts added 18:53 - Mar 26 Sweet Kenwyne Jone - That is funny !!! will be in Berra and Smiths pocket !
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Suffolk_n_Good added 19:16 - Mar 26 Get in!! Welcome back Jonny!! Also big welcome to Zeki, Jonny must have sang our praises to the boy, he would of no doubt asked Jonny his thoughts on ITFC, #believe
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Cakeman added 19:21 - Mar 26 All been said by previous posters but I would like to add my support as well for this excellent signing. A very talented and very well liked chap who in my opinion for what it's worth is the best midfielder I have seen in our shirt for years. Welcome back Jonny. The signs look good with him having so many loan spells with us. Hopefully if we go up, he can end up signing permanently just as Daryl Murphy did. As Arkwright might have said............Granville, ffffffetch the promotion! PS I don't know anything about Zeki Fryers but welcome, I am sure you will be a good signing too.

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muccletonjoe added 19:45 - Mar 26 Is there any other player we could have signed who would have got such widespread approval ? - I think not.
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Ipswichbusiness added 19:54 - Mar 26 Williams is a wonderful player and if we go up I would love him to sign for us permanently. However, the only worry is his injury record, but with only a few weeks of the season to go, hopefully, fingers crossed, touch wood, that won't be a problem.
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itfc_nik added 20:13 - Mar 26 damn!! look what you miss when you don't watch the Messageboard all day, great news, the perfect player for the final push!!
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bluesince84 added 20:15 - Mar 26 Fair play to MM and ME. WELL DONE ON GREAT SIGNINGS, IF ONLY THIS HAD HAPPENED IN JAN CAN YOU IMAGINE WHERE WE'D BE? There is now absolutely no excuse to play hoof ball. To make things better, mings is out ( i do like him) which will hopefully force chambers and berra in middle with parr out on right flank. Jesus what am i saying, a balanced back four, an attacking midfield. christ, am i on drugs?

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Steve70 added 20:19 - Mar 26 Take us to the play off final , then play out a 0-0 draw go to pens Win 5-4 master Stoke !
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marco007 added 20:24 - Mar 26 Calm down, calm down! :) Decent signings but I fear that neither will be match fit and there is so little time to bed them in before thrusting them into a Championship promotion battle! We are now overloaded with loanees which is short term planning. We needed players many weeks ago!
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