Defender or midfielder Georges Santos has been handed a two-year deal by Town. The 32-year-old former Grimsby and Sheffield United man has impressed in pre-season and with Thomas Gaardsøe gone the Blues are able to tie him to the club for longer.

Manager Joe Royle says that the initial three-month deal was put in place to have a look at him and to prevent him from going elsewhere: "We took Georges originally for three months because we knew there was a French club interested in him and the board backed me, but we could not give him anything longer until another player had gone.

"I have been delighted with Georges and Drissa Diallo since they arrived. And now with Kelvin Davis we have really tightened up in defence, which we needed to do."

All three signings are set to start in tonight's friendly at Portman Road against Levski Sofia. New number one Kelvin Davis will make his first start in a Town jersey.

Levski, Bulgaria's top side in recent years, have a number of Bulgarian internationals in their side including striker Georgi Chilikov and keeper Dimitar Ivankov, somewhat surprisingly - and erroneously - linked with Town by the Bulgarian media earlier this week.

Also likely to be in their side is Garba Lawal who was interesting George Burley during the Nigerian international's time with JC Roda Kerkrade in Holland a couple of years ago.

As reported yesterday, Town's only real doubt ahead of the game is Chris Makin. If he fails to make it then Matt Richards will fill in at left-back.

Town squad: D Bent, M Bent, Bowditch, Collins, Couñago, Davis, Diallo, Magilton, Makin, Miller, Naylor, Price, Reuser, Richards, Santos, Westlake, Wilnis and Wright.

Photo: Action Images

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