x

Town Confirm Keane Loan Signing - Ipswich Town News

Town have confirmed the signing of Hull City striker Will Keane on loan for the rest of the season.

"I know the qualities Will will give us and I'm delighted we have been able to get him here," manager Paul Lambert told the club website.

Keane says the move gives him a chance to play regularly having been on the fringes with the Tigers.

"It’s a great opportunity for me to come here and hopefully play some games and contribute to the team,” he told iFollow Ipswich.

"I spoke to the manager a couple of days ago and it was an easy decision for me.

"Despite the position in the league, I know it’s a great club. I know about the manager. I have played at the stadium. I’ve seen the training ground. The foundations are in place for Ipswich to be a top Championship club at least.

"I want to do everything I can for the cause here and score a few goals and help push the team up the league.

"I have seen it happen recently at Hull. You put a few results together and you can catapult up the league. It’s doable.

"They were down at the bottom not so long ago but got a couple of wins and before you know it, that was four or five wins and the confidence starts to come and you build momentum.

"I have spoken to some of the lads here and they have said the performances have been good but the luck has gone against us. Hopefully that will change as well.”

Keane, who will wear the number 14 shirt, was signed by the midday deadline which permits him to be involved in the FA Cup tie at Accrington Stanley tomorrow.

Stockport-born Keane, who is out of contract at the end of the season, came through the ranks at Manchester United where he made two sub appearances in the Premier League and spent spells out on loan at Wigan, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Preston.

In August 2016, Hull paid the Red Devils a reported £1.02 million for 6ft 2in tall Keane, who has been capped by England at U16, U17, U19, U20 and U21 levels.

A serious knee ligament injury - the second of his career, he previously missed the whole of the 2012/13 campaign - saw him sidelined for more than a year of football with the Tigers and he has made only 11 starts and 15 sub appearances, scoring once, since making his move to East Yorkshire.

Overall, Keane, whose twin brother is England international centre-half Michael, has netted only six senior goals in 45 starts and 33 games from the bench.

This season he has made one Championship start - the 2-0 win at Leeds last Saturday - and seven sub appearances, in addition to two games in the EFL Cup, without finding the net.

Manager Paul Lambert has said he wants two strikers in the transfer window as he looks to turn Town’s season around in the second half of the campaign.

What to read next:

[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Town Women Lose in League Cup at Palace
Ipswich Town Women levelled twice but fell to a 3-2 defeat away to Crystal Palace at Sutton United’s Green Gander Lane in the Subway Women’s League Cup, the Eagles netting the winner six minutes from time.
U18s Lose at Norwich
Town’s U18s fell to a last-gasp defeat to local rivals Norwich City at their Avant Training Centre on Saturday.
Town Women at Palace in League Cup
Town Women are in Subway Women’s League Cup action away against Crystal Palace at Sutton United’s Gander Green Lane on Sunday afternoon (KO 2pm).
Middlesbrough 2-1 Ipswich Town - Highlights
Highlights of last night’s 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
Edwards: A Great Tear-Up
Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards was proud of his team following their 2-1 victory over the Blues in a game he described as “a great tear-up”.
O'Shea: That's Not Our DNA
Town captain Dara O’Shea expressed his frustration at an uncharacteristic performance as the Blues were beaten 2-1 by Middlesbrough at the Riverside.
McKenna: Few Complaints About the Result, We Made Too Many Mistakes
Town boss Kieran McKenna had few complaints following his side’s 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough, admitting his team made too many mistakes.
Middlesbrough 2-1 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Town fell to their second defeat of the season as they were beaten 2-1 by Middlesbrough at the Riverside to send the home side back to the top of the Championship. Cedric Kipre’s own goal in first-half injury time gave Boro the lead, George Hirst having seen a penalty saved moments earlier, before Morgan Whittaker added a second 10 minutes into the second half, prior to Dara O’Shea pulling one back for the Blues on 76, but Town were unable to find a second goal.
Middlesbrough 2-1 Ipswich Town - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.