Town have confirmed the signing of Crystal Palace’s Jonny Williams for a third loan spell and have also added his Eagles team-mate Zeki Fryers to the squad.
Williams, 21, returns to the Blues for a third spell having been at Portman Road last season and having had an earlier stint with Town this season curtailed by a groin injury from which he has only just returned to training.
Although clubs are not allowed to take a player on two emergency loans in the same season, in situations such as Williams’s where a player had a spell cut short by injury then clause 53.3.12* of the Football League rules allows that loan to be restarted at the point the injury was suffered.
We understand Williams has 53 days of his spell remaining which will take him to the play-off semi-finals but means he would miss the final if Town make it to Wembley.
Town fought off interest from Wolves, Fulham and Watford to sign the midfielder for the third time.
Williams made four starts and one sub appearance, scoring one goal, between September and November before suffering a groin injury in the 1-0 home victory against Watford after a wild Joel Ekstrand challenge.
Last season, the Pembury-born player made 11 starts and two sub appearances, scoring one goal between February and May.
Left-back Fryers, 22, joined Palace from Tottenham for £5 million in the summer having previously been with Manchester United and Standard Liege.
The Mancunian, who has made only one sub appearance for the Eagles, has already spent time on loan with Rotherham this year and faced the Blues in one of his 10 appearances.
The 6ft tall defender, who will be with Town for the rest of the season, has been capped by England at U16, U17 and U19 levels.
The Blues are in need of cover at full-back with Tyrone Mings suspended for the next two games having amassed 10 bookings and Jonny Parr having missed the game at Watford with a minor knock and having played in midfield in recent weeks.
*53.3.12 The Executive shall have discretion to extend the maximum duration of 93 days for an Emergency Loan in extenuating circumstances, such circumstances to be determined in the Executive’s absolute discretion.