Town boss Paul Jewell has confirmed that the Blues are close to completing the signing of Manchester City defender Reece Wabara on a 93-day loan. The 19-year-old right-back or centre-half is set to join the club later today.

Jewell said: “We’re trying to sign Reece. He’s an England U20 international, he was with their squad in Colombia in the summer. I spoke to Manchester City on Monday and hopefully that will get done today.

“Carlos has done exceptionally well, certainly the system we’re playing suits him, he’s a good attacking full-back.

"But we’ve let Jaime Peters go to Bournemouth and although Jack Ainsley’s done well, I just feel we need a bit more cover for Carlos at right-back. If the lad comes in and does well, like any player, he will stay in."

Wabara has played much of his football at centre-half but Jewell sees him as a right-back: “He can play centre-back, he has played there for Manchester City quite a bit, but he’s probably just not quite big enough to play at centre-back.

“He’s quick and he’s strong. I spoke to him last night and he’s very keen, has a lot of confidence in his own ability. I’ve told him that he comes here he has to fight for his place and he’s more than willing to do that. Hopefully, he’ll be here tonight.”

Wabara was first linked with Town earlier in the week when Reading, Millwall and Blackpool were also reported to be interested in the 19-year-old.

The player tweeted that he is close to a loan switch earlier today: "Morning all! My move should be completed very shortly will let you all know when it's done."

The England U20 international joined City from Walsall as a youngster and signed a new three-year professional deal earlier in the year.

City are willing to allow the Birmingham-born player to move on a short-term spell to get games under his belt with his first team experience so far limited to one sub appearance on the final day of last season.

Wabara comes from a sporting family with ex- Liverpool winger Mark Walters and heavyweight boxer Pele Reid his father Martin’s half-brothers. His grandfather, Lawrence Wabara, was an international footballer with Nigeria in the 1950s.

Jewell says there are no new injuries, aside from Daryl Murphy who is a doubt for Saturday's home game against Brighton with the hamstring problem he sustained during the warm-up at West Ham on Tuesday.

Mark Kennedy should be back training today after his calf problem, while the Blues manager says Ívar Ingimarsson is fit and ready to get back in the side: “He’s chomping at the bit to try and get a chance.”

Lee Martin is over his tonsillitis but Jewell says the winger has suffered another setback: “He’s got a problem with his eye, he was playing golf on his day off.

"I don’t quite know what yet but he was at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London yesterday, so I’m expecting a report. Hopefully that won’t be too serious.”

Photo: Action Images

BiGDonnie added 09:48 - Sep 29 Happy days!
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petermorris added 09:51 - Sep 29 PMason - what do you think?
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HighgateBlue added 09:56 - Sep 29 Do we think that this signing is: (a) with a view to him joining permanently, and the lad being a right-sided version of the Cresswell signing (i.e. hopefully a young full back for the long term); (b) cover for Carlos Edwards (and the centre backs) during the loan spell; (c) replacement for Carlos Edwards during the loan spell? Personally I hope it's (a), although I've not seen him play. I don't like the thought of us helping players improve only for us to have no chance of signing them permanently (Noble, Gio etc).

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Stretchstar added 09:57 - Sep 29 Ha ha ha ha ha, he must have something negative to say about this, surely not!!!!!!
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rosseden added 10:01 - Sep 29 Could be any of the three Highgate, unless PJ sees another young player he can move up a grade like Cressy, i would think this is a short term measure, i cant see ManChitty bringing someone up at that age and letting them go already, id think they want him for a year more at least yet......
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rosseden added 10:02 - Sep 29 they gave him a 3 year deal this year, so they must think hes worth the longer term investment.....which would suggest hes a loan only for now, gives us another option though and some time to find a right sided cresswell.......
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Bergholtblue added 10:04 - Sep 29 It is so refreshing to be linked with players of this quality, rather than Sunderland has-beens and irish league nobody's. It does look though Man City only see this as a short term loan. No mention of 'a view to a permanent switch' Whilst it is good to see these players in a Town shirt, it does mean we are back to square one when they have to return to their respective clubs. However, I trust PJ to do his utmost to keep the players here once they have shown that they can do a job.

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Drew added 10:06 - Sep 29 We're actually signing a Right Back? Yay!
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irishtim added 10:06 - Sep 29 loan 4 now see how he progresses maybe one 4 the future who knows lets give him a chance @ big welcome
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Lovetown added 10:08 - Sep 29 Hahaha we beat West Ham there is a spark of hope! Common Ipswich!
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ThatMuhrenCross added 10:40 - Sep 29 Might turn out that we need a replacement for Carlos anyway...
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Fatboy added 11:00 - Sep 29 What's a right-back?
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Brazils_Hair added 11:01 - Sep 29 Crikey - I am well chuffed with this news. My MCFC friend really rates this chap.
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distractored added 11:14 - Sep 29 Now I'm confused; didn't one of our previous managers say players won't commute to Ipswich?
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Superfrans added 11:16 - Sep 29 Pleased by this. He'll provide cover for Carlos if he is a. injured, b. pushed forward into midfield because of injury, c. put in clink, d. hit by a run of bad form. And, he might allow us to operate a 3-5-2 formation, joining with Collins and Sonko in central defence, allowing Carlos and Cresswell to move into wide midfield. I like that.
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northernblues added 11:25 - Sep 29 cover for carlos whilst he is doing 3 months inside!
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cammeray added 11:31 - Sep 29 Nice one, another player to add some cover/depth and who probably has something to prove so could do very well. Bring on Brighton. Always good reading a new player added, especially whilst sat on plane in Melbourne attempting take off in a monsoon
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jas0999 added 11:39 - Sep 29 Great news. We need competition at right-back; but Edwards would be unlucky to be dropped.
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tractorboybig added 11:42 - Sep 29 if this happens even though temp it is the missing piece of the jigsaw. Jas0999- edwards would be unlucky to be dropped, mainly because the useless w***ker should not be there in the first place.
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irishtim added 11:52 - Sep 29 give edwards a break he is playing quite well at the moment
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Special_A added 12:21 - Sep 29 Very good young talent and id rapid. Just adds something a bit different to our squad and really will push Edwards. Has trained with the first team, so must be highly rated.
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are_these_the_days added 12:21 - Sep 29 jas0999 - this is getting worrying - I find myself agreeing with you. Carlos has been our most creative player in many games this season & certainly doesn't deserve to lose his place.
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SpecialK79 added 12:24 - Sep 29 your not wanted here pmason! good to see some more youth in the team and to battle carlos for his place
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petermorris added 12:30 - Sep 29 PJ - make sure Wabara has a current MOT.
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Mark added 12:36 - Sep 29 He sounds young and enthusiastic, and has plenty of promise. I am a bit wary of signing young players whom we cannot sign permanently, but cover at right-back is badly needed so this seems a sensible move. Edwards has been one of our best players of late, was part of the defence that has kept three clean sheets, so should keep his place. Wabara will provide cover and competition though, and allow us to play Edwards on the right-wing as another option.

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