Town manager Joe Royle says he expects to sign a Premiership defender on a season-long loan later this week. The Blues lost central defender John McGreal and full-back Chris Makin over the summer, adding only Jason De Vos to the squad.

Royle told the club site: "If all goes well, we will be bringing in a defender on loan from a Premiership club for the season."

With Drissa Diallo forced to fill in at right-back of late, a full-back would look to be Town's defensive priority.

In addition to the defender, Royle says he may not be far away from adding to his attacking options: "I would also like another front player here and I am confident of signing a player on loan for that role, possibly next week."

However, Royle says that that doesn't mean an immediate exit for Spanish frontman Pablo Couñago: "We have had no offers for Pablo at the moment and on his best form, I would be sorry to lose him."

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