Aston Villa have confirmed that 18-year-old winger Jordan Graham has joined the Blues on a youth loan until January 4th. Football League clubs have until 5pm today to sign players on loan.
The Coventry-born wideman, previously an England U16 and U17 international, is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Premier League side but is a regular in their U21s.
Graham is set to join up with the Town squad tomorrow. He has not been given permission to play in the FA Cup with the third round tie taking place during his stay.
Speaking at the end of last week, manager Mick McCarthy said he then had no deals lined-up to go through prior to the loan deadline, although admitted that he would like to make some additions: "Not at the moment, no. I’d like to [bring someone in], just to beef the squad up, but we’ll see.
"It’s a difficulty that because bringing young players in from the Premier League, the first thing they say is that they want them to play because that’s why they’re sending them out.
"Bringing senior players in from other clubs who might be disenchanted, they want to play. Coming here over Christmas, they might [not want to come] if I’m not promising that they’ll play.
"And let me tell you, they’d have to be bloody good players to get in the team, that’s my view. It’s not easy just getting loan players to come and beef the squad up.”
McCarthy was still looking to get Anthony Wordsworth out on loan, a move to Preston having fallen down a fortnight ago, while other younger members of the squad could be sent out for spells to gain experience.