Town boss Mick McCarthy is delighted to have added Leicester City striker Chris Wood to his squad on loan for the rest of the season. He says he's been chasing the New Zealand international striker for some time.
"I was in for him fairly early and asked about him. I think when you show an interest it’s always nice. I’ve done that in the past,” he said.
"He had an [ankle] injury so he had to get back fully fit. To be fair, there were plenty of others who wanted him and would have taken him. But I spoke to Nigel Pearson and he gave me the go-ahead with that as soon as he was fit.
"What’s nice is that Chris has wanted to come here. I know he’s a team-mate of Tommy’s in the New Zealand team and he wants to come and play for us. I’m delighted."
McCarthy says linking up with his international room-mate Smith may have helped persuade him to join the Blues ahead of the other interested parties, while the striker was also keen to find out how the Blues play.
"He’s a team-mate of Tommy Smith’s, whether that has any bearing on it or not I don't know,” the Town manager continued. "Perhaps the fact that we’re third and we play 4-4-2 and he’s a striker and he wants to come and get a chance.
"I spoke to him yesterday and all of those things matter to him - how we play, are we going to play one up front, are we 4-4-2.
"I’m glad we’ve convinced him that this is the place to come. But there were other teams in for him.”
McCarthy says the 23-year-old has a track record of netting regularly at this level: "He scores goals, for one. And in this league I think when he was at Millwall he was the leading goalscorer for a time. He’s scored goals with Leicester.
"He’s a good, physical presence, he can hold it up, he’s a good character around the place, I’m told. Tommy knows him well. And having seen him train this morning I can see the quality that he has. He’s been missing for a bit, but he’s good to go, good to play.”
The striker told the club site that he discovered Town's interest in signing him yesterday: "I finished training at Leicester yesterday and I was told of Ipswich’s interest then.
"Straight away I was on the phone, speaking to the gaffer and had a really good chat about coming to Ipswich and I was really excited about joining the club.
"It’s well documented that I’m friends with Tommy Smith and I’m always in contact with him. I spoke to him about everything concerned with the club and everything he said was positive.
"Once I’d spoken to the gaffer and Tommy, I’d made my mind up straight away about coming here.
"I’m looking forward to helping out and hopefully playing a part in getting Ipswich promoted. The lads are flying at the moment and it’s a great group to be joining.
"I’m excited for the challenge ahead and playing games is what I’m after. Leicester have let me go out on loan and I’m convinced Ipswich will be the right club for me.
"I’m looking forward to getting started and hopefully I can play a part in the derby on Sunday.”
Wood is likely to be amongst the Town subs at Norwich but will probably make his Blues debut at some stage.
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