Fulham striker David Healy appears close to signing on loan for the Blues ahead of Thursday's deadline. Various reports emanating from Northern Ireland in the wake of their 4-1 victory over Georgia earlier this evening suggest the 28-year-old is on the verge of joining Town.

After the game, in which he scored a goal at each end, Healy was remaining coy about his possible future at Portman Road: "Nobody's ever happy about not playing first team football. Jim's a terrific manager, he's done a terrific job, Ipswich are a terrific club and I'm sure he'll keep doing a terrific job. We'll have to wait and see."

Jim Magilton has long been an admirer of Healy and had made no secret of his desire to get him in his squad. The Town manager is keen to bring in a striker and a central defender before Thursday's loan deadline and appears to have succeeded in landing one of his top targets.

Previously, Fulham boss Roy Hodgson had been unwilling to allow Healy to leave, but Jari Litmanen's return to training after injury looks to have tipped the balance.

Elsewhere, Velice Sumulikoski won his 48th, 49th or 50th Macedonia cap as they drew 2-2 with Bosnia-Herzegovina in a friendly in Zenica. The Town midfielder played the full 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card.

Earlier this afternoon, Chris Casement won his ninth Northern Ireland U21 cap as they lost 3-1 to Romania at Ballymena.

Elsewhere, Town have announced that Manchester United will be sending an U15 side to take on a young Blues side at Portman Road on Friday, 25th April.

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