Former Blues striker Alan Lee has rejoined the Town first team squad on a non-contract basis. Last month, TWTD revealed that manager Mick McCarthy was weighing up offering the 35-year-old a chance to extend his playing career.
The former Ireland international — who we understand was interesting Crawley and Colchester earlier in the summer following his release by Huddersfield — has continued to train with the first team and also scored in an U21 pre-season friendly against the U's and has now been formally added to the squad.
"Alan Lee is one of our youth coaches and I’ve signed him on a non-contract basis so he is available to play,” McCarthy said.
"He’s not in the squad for the weekend, but he’s available to play. I could play him because he trains with us and he’s still physically fit.
"He’s great around the place and he’s great with the kids, so it’s a good deal for us and for him.”
The Blues boss says Lee offers something that his other four strikers don’t: "They’re all different, he’s not David McGoldrick or Big Frank or Paul Taylor or Murph, he’s a different character altogether.
"I’ve done it because I think he’s somebody I could use during the season. And he’s a fabulous character and a lovely man.”
The 6ft 2in tall frontman started his career with Aston Villa and spent time on loan with Torquay and Port Vale while with the Villans.
Galway-born Lee subsequently moved on to Burnley, Rotherham and Cardiff before joining the Blues for a fee £100,000 in January 2006.
The striker, who is based at Dedham, went on to make 96 starts and 13 sub appearances for Town, scoring 34 goals, prior to moving on to Crystal Palace in August 2008.
While with the Eagles he spent a short spell on loan at Norwich City towards the end of the 2008/09 relegation season before joining the Terriers in the summer of 2010.