Town have signed former Charlton and Yeovil defender Kelly Youga on a short-term deal until January. The 27-year-old left-back, Mick McCarthy's first signing as Blues boss, was a free agent having left the Glovers in March.
Born in Bangui in the Central African Republic, Youga started his career with Olympique Lyonnais's B side before joining Charlton in 2005.
The 6ft 1in tall full-back spent six years at the Valley, making 69 starts and two sub appearances in addition to periods on loan at Bristol City, Bradford and Scunthorpe.
After leaving Charlton in the summer of 2011, he joined Yeovil but left by mutual consent the following March having made only one 45-minute substitute appearance for the League One side.
Prior to that his most recent domestic first team appearance was for Charlton in a 4-2 victory over Bristol Rovers in November 2009. A knee injury saw him miss the whole of the following season.
Youga won his one and so far only full international cap with the Central African Republic in June.
The signing would appear to be primarily experienced cover for first-choice left-back Aaron Cresswell, although new manager Mick McCarthy did experiment with pushing the former Tranmere man in to midfield in the latter stages of the defeat at Crystal Palace. However, given his lack of first team football over the last three years, it might be a while before he is up to speed. Youga, who has also played at centre-half, has been added to the squad for tonight's Suffolk Premier Cup game at Walsham-le-Willows (KO 7.45pm). Photos: Action Images/ITFCWhat to read next:
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If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Town’s six-game unbeaten run came to an end as they were beaten 2-1 by strugglers Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium. Mark Harris profited from an Azor Matusiwa error in the 24th minute to give the U’s the lead against the run of play. The Blues toiled having gone behind but levelled through Leif Davis’s excellent volley eight minutes into the second half, however, Town were caught short of numbers at the back as the U’s countered in the 77th minute, Przemyslaw Placheta restoring their lead, and the Blues were unable to find a second equaliser in the latter stages.
Mark Harris’s 24th-minute goal has given Oxford United a 1-0 half-time lead over the Blues at the Kassam Stadium.
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