Colchester right-back Kane Vincent-Young arrived at Playford Road earlier this morning as the Blues close in on the completion of his signing from the U’s. The clubs have agreed a fee of around £500,000 for the 23-year-old, whose switch is expected to be confirmed over the weekend or on Monday.
"Hopefully everything goes OK with medicals and bits and pieces, and hopefully that goes through,” manager Paul Lambert said at his press conference this morning.
Lambert says right-back, Vincent-Young’s main position, has been one of a number of areas he has been looking to cover.
"It wasn’t just right-back, there are a few positions I don’t think we’re strong enough. If you look at Myles [Kenlock], he’s the one left-back we have.
"If Kane comes, then he can play left-back as well, it’s not his favourite position, but we don’t have massive cover in certain areas.
"[Luke] Garbutt is out [for a month with a knee injury], and we don’t have a natural left-footer on that side either, so there are one or two positions I still think need to be strengthened.”
Lambert says he was impressed by Vincent-Young in the pre-season friendly between the Blues and Colchester last month.
"I saw him playing, obviously he played against ourselves, and he fits the mould of the club,” he said.
"Young, athletic, strong and he’s played a lot of games. He’s only 23 years old and he’s had a good upbringing at Tottenham, so if it does happen and everything goes OK then we’ve got a really good player.”
The Blues boss is in no doubt about where he plans to play the Camden-born defender: "He’s a right-back. I know he can do left-back, but it’s not the ideal position for him, right-back for me is his strongest area.”
Lambert says his new signing is unlikely to go straight into the team either at Peterborough on Saturday - "For tomorrow? No chance” - or at home to AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday: "No, first and foremost, I need to see if he’s going to come.”
Asked if Vincent-Young’s recruitment means Janoi Donacien is more likely to play at centre-half, which Lambert has previously said he believes is the St Lucian’s best position, he added: "He’s playing well Janoi. You’ve got to give him credit where it’s due.
"He’s playing really well, and I’m happy with Janoi and the way he’s performing. But if Kane does come then, it gives us extra help.”
Lambert dismissed suggestions that Vincent-Young’s signing might see Josh Emmanuel move out on loan.
"No, not really, As I said before, we could potentially play 60-odd games, it’s too much, it’s far too many games,” he continued.
"You have to have a squad that’s big enough and strong enough that can play. We’re going to need everybody, but the secret is keeping everyone happy.”
He added: "Janoi’s doing great. Josh has got to fight, you sacrifice yourself for the team, you fight to get in the side, that’s football all over the world.
"It doesn’t just happen in Ipswich, you make sure that when you get the opportunity, because they’ll all get opportunities, you have to stay in the side or you have to show me that you can do it.”
He says he’ll be happy to carry all three right-backs going ahead: "And whoever’s best, gets in. You get in this side, you fight for everything and you have to worry that somebody can take your place.
"If you don’t have that, if you don’t look over your shoulder in football then you become complacent, you have to have people who are ready to take your place and who are hungry to take your place and have the desire to take your place.
"And the flip side of that is that you have to be ready to fight them off, that’s the competition you need.”