Derby County striker Conor Sammon has joined the Blues on a season-long loan from Derby County. Town have been linked with the 27-year-old Republic of Ireland international on a number of occasions since Mick McCarthy took over at Portman Road.
Sammon trained with the Blues squad this morning and will be in the squad at Reading tomorrow if the paperwork goes through before tomorrow's noon deadline.
Sammon told the club site that the chance to work with Mick McCarthy was one he couldn't turn down: "Once I became aware that the gaffer was interested in bringing me to Ipswich, it was an opportunity that really excited me.
"I have always admired the manager from the time he was in charge of the Ireland national team. He is very straight, very honest.
"He came across that way in the interviews I used to see him do from years ago and from the conversations I’ve had with him, he’s exactly the same now.
"I’m looking forward to working under him. I think I’m the type of player that will suit what the gaffer wants from his players and how the team is here.
"Last season was a frustrating one for me on a personal level at Derby, even though the team had a successful season and were close to getting promoted.
"It was difficult training through the week knowing that you weren’t going to be playing on the Saturday. Coming to Ipswich gives me a new opportunity to really fight for a place in the team. Hopefully it can be a very successful loan for me and the club.”
Explaining the move, Derby boss Steve McClaren told the Rams' official site: "Conor’s first-team chances were limited last season, especially with Chris Martin in superb form.
"That was unfortunately going to be the case for him this season, especially following the arrival of Leon Best from Blackburn Rovers, so moving on loan to Ipswich presents him with a strong possibility of playing first-team football.”
The Dubliner, who has been handed the Town number 32 shirt, played youth football with local side Cherry Orchard, then moved on to UCD, Derry City, Kilmarnock and then Wigan before joining Derby for £1.2 million in the summer of 2012.
Since then Sammon, who has won nine full Ireland caps, has made 49 starts and 40 sub appearances for the Rams, scoring 13 goals.
Sammon, who earlier in the summer was linked with a reunion with former Derby boss Nigel Clough at Sheffield United, is contracted to the Rams for another two years.
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