Town are hoping to sign Blackburn Rovers midfielder Alan Mahon on a three-month loan today. The 25-year-old is out of favour at Ewood Park and has not played for them this season.

Joe Royle has been keen to add a winger to his squad and bemoaned that lack of one at the club on a number of occasions last season. The exit of Marcus Bent, a former team-mate of Mahon at Blackburn, has given Royle the cash to fund the loan.

The two clubs have agreed the move but the player is yet to decide on the switch.

Mahon has two full Irish caps and will be familiar to Johm McGreal who played with him at Tranmere. Mahon left Prenton Park for Sporting Lisbon in July 2000 but returned to the UK when he signed for Blackburn for £1.5 million in June 2001 after a successful loan spell.

Mahon was a major factor in Blackburn's 2000/01 promotion but has made just 25 appearances for since signing permanently for them. Last season he was loaned out to Cardiff City where he played 15 games and scored two goals.

The 5'7" Dubliner was linked with a move to Town in March 2002 but nothing came of the reported interest at that time.

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