Town defender Piotr Malarczyk has joined League One Southend United on loan for the rest of the season.
"We’ve played against Piotr in a behind closed doors with Ipswich and I’m very pleased to have signed him,” Shrimpers manager Phil Brown told the Southend Echo.
"We needed another defender and Piotr is someone who has a real presence back there.”
He added: "If you want a defender with the right mentality, the right attitude you won’t go far wrong from Piotr.”
"He brings that steely mentality to the side. He’s a strong character who’s vocal and has got a presence.”
Malarczyk, 24, was signed from his hometown club Korona Kielce, where he was skipper, in August, when the Blues triggered a release clause of 50,000 zloty (around £8,500) in his contract.
But since then the former Poland U21 international, who was close to winning a senior international call-up in September, has made only three starts - all in the cups - and three Championship sub appearances.
His last Town game was the FA Cup replay defeat at Portsmouth in which he was sent off having picked up two yellow cards after conceding a penalty (above).
Recently, having been out of action for three weeks due to a kidney stone, he has been out of the Blues' senior matchday 18 and playing in the U21s side.
Despite his lack of opportunities, Malarczyk said last week that he's not ready to give up on English football with manager Mick McCarthy praising his attitude.
Malarczyk is unavailable for Southend's game at Rochdale tomorrow but will join up with their squad on Sunday and could make his debut against Sheffield United at Roots Hall next Wednesday.
The Southend squad also includes former Blues Noel Hunt and Anthony Wordsworth, as well as one-time Town loanee Tyrone Barnett, who is on loan with the Shrimpers from Shrewsbury.