Town have confirmed the signing of Crystal Palace striker Stern John on loan until 29th December. The paperwork on the deal was completed close to the 5pm deadline with the authorities rubber-stamping the move later in the evening.

The Trinidad and Tobago international has played for the Eagles only seven times since joining them in the summer after undergoing elbow surgery in August. He is yet to score this season.

Having played for Malta Carib Alcons in his home country, John moved on to the Carolina Dynamo, the New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers and Columbus Crew in the US before relocating to England with Nottingham Forest in 1999.

Since then the 5ft 11in tall frontman has played for a long list of clubs, largely at Championship level: Birmingham City, Coventry, Derby (loan), Sunderland, Southampton and Bristol City (loan), before joining Palace in the summer on a free transfer. He has made 109 appearances for his country, scoring 69 goals.

In eight months at Sunderland under Keane between January and August 2007, John scored five goals in 10 starts and six sub appearances, helping the Black Cats to win the Championship. Overall in English football, John has scored 97 goals in 250 starts and 105 sub substitute appearances.

The striker will train with his new team-mates on Friday and is likely to make his debut at Cardiff on Sunday.

Photo: Action Images

peterleeblue added 22:29 - Nov 26 Thanks Injuredanimal. I accept we are in the brown stuff and I expected better to be honest. BUT we are were we are. And as many before us have proved no one has a divine right to anything in this league. I will also admit that Keane has tested my patience with the FAI thing (didnt need to get drawn) and the pursuit of Harte (if indeed true). But he is the gaffer and I am a supporter my job is to to do just that until someone more important than me does something about it. In this football world of boom and bust (you only have to hear the Wenger out chants after a couple of Arsenal defeats on the radio) then what we need is some stability. I support Keane while he battles to to find his perfect line up and I believe our patience my yet get rewarded. Keep the Faith.

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PSGBlue added 22:32 - Nov 26 I suspect Keane could have landed Stern John at least a month ago, clearly hoping that something better would turn up in the meantime. Unfortuantely no one else seems to want to come, so Stern John it is then! Must be the worst signing of a forward since Lee Chapman turned up. Who would we rather have Rhodes or Stern John? Lets get idiot out now, who would I rather have? Anyone.. including Alan Brazil as long it gets this joker out of our club.

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FormerlyCGS added 22:32 - Nov 26 He broke his arm early doors he will need two games to be match fit, then he will be goin back!
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AJblue added 22:33 - Nov 26 Yeah, rightly put Hussey. What have we got to lose,if he is a success, we all smile, well some of us,if he is a past it has-been (not my words), well come Jan, he is gone. Just a point KUTB, Evans could have thrown millions at Keane, but seeing as this is a loan period, he couldnt have spent it, could he? Yes, this signing does at first glance seem like Keane was scraping around, but if John proves to be the answer, then surely that is shrewd business.....either way we will have to wait to see.

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UEFA81 added 22:34 - Nov 26 I wonder if the mighty Eric Gates can be tempted away from radio-land in Sunderland? He'd get my vote.
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FormerlyCGS added 22:34 - Nov 26 Great post psg
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peterleeblue added 22:37 - Nov 26 Ipswich Town Christmas wish list - Some supporters who support. Come on Guys you know you want to.
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Suffolk_n_Good added 22:39 - Nov 26 Uefa81, my guess would be that with Gates'ys Sunderland link Keanes probably already tried & failed to attract him! LOL!
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joeylarts8 added 22:40 - Nov 26 Well let's be honest, he can't do much worse than priskin, stead and counago whatever happens, at least he'll work hard up top, and be a challenge in the air, not like the other 3 who may aswell stand in quicksand when the ball goes in the air!
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Hiltzkooler added 22:44 - Nov 26 Ipswich Town wish list...Stern John scores hat trick between now and end December! And Keane decides on a consistant first team....
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Suffolk_n_Good added 22:45 - Nov 26 Peterleeblue, a little harsh I feel, We all want whats best for our ITFC, but we all have to respect that we have differing thoughts & opinions on how to achieve it, but that doesn't mean anyone one of us doesn't support does it?
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GiveusanI added 22:48 - Nov 26 Some people really ought to try to get out once in a while... The reactionary bile that some folks are spouting is amazing. Get behind the Town. Now is not the time for negativity and desperation. Or are there lots of Budgie provocateurs on here? COYB
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Hiltzkooler added 22:53 - Nov 26 InjuredAnimal....if a 2mil Priskin cannot produce the goods how is John...a journeyman by anyone's calling..going to be a difference...as others have said Keane does not seem to be able to motivate...unless he chucks them in the reserves etc...as opposed to arm chair supporters I can say that good willing and happless intent does not produce results..stern john is good willing and hapless intent...coupled by inept management.....

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UEFA81 added 22:53 - Nov 26 PSG - I just want to say I really adore Shirley Manson. Sorry for the off-topic. suffolk'n'good - it wouldn't surprise me mate, lol.
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Suffolk_n_Good added 22:55 - Nov 26 Your right now is not the time for desperation!! perhaps you should have e-mailed Mr Keane & told him that at 4:50pm this afternoon, before he signed Stern John!!
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Hiltzkooler added 23:00 - Nov 26 Giveusani - no I spend my money watching the team around the country...I am fed up of Keane's bile post match...I will continue to watch around the country but am worried our team is on the precipice...Keane has had his chance...though as others have said is there a manager out there at the moment that the club can reasonably attract...and before anyone says..no not Curb's! Or Hart...let's hope that Cardiff is the point at which Keane can face us detractors and say, there, I have got it right....

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tommyblue added 23:01 - Nov 26 what the hell is going on, stern john, just shows what we can attract, near enough lost faith with keane, ill keep supporting but my faith has gone, this looks desperate and we look in trouble serious trouble, i aint part of the pro-keane anit-keane boll*cks, im just a fan whos paid good money for the last 10 years or so with an opinion, and we are in trouble
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moomoosereni added 23:03 - Nov 26 Not a great record when previously out on loan to other clubs. Having said that someone who has scored enough goals at this level to know what it takes. And at the very least its another striking option. It's been depressing over the past months watching the same strikers just never look like scoring in games. Someone fresh to watch and I imagine if he does net a few will be available for longer come Jan? Just needed a striker more than anything, and we've got one. Let's give the bloke a chance to put on a shirt before we slag him off too much! If in a months time he's scored 1 or none in half a dozen starts we can start re-thinking but lets just see what happens.

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alex12345 added 23:13 - Nov 26 I can see exactly the logistics behind this signing. Stern John is a big guy who will put his weight around up front which is what we lack and I think with priskin or pablo playing off this large presence in the box them 2 will shine. You just watch us suprise everyone by going out on Saturday and giving Cardiff a good seeing to. Come on the town!!!
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StavangerBlue added 23:15 - Nov 26 Now he's on board he's part of the team, part of the dream, we should all get right behind the team!! COYB!!
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julesbda added 23:19 - Nov 26 yep , we get a player who hasn't scored this season yet ..he'll get a couple of games and sit on the bench with the rest of them ...he's clearly not in form otherwise C.P would have let him go ....we really are a shambles ..doing my best to back RK but even i have to say it's getting tough ...i do wonder when most of us RK supporters will actually throw the towel in with him ...i hope it never happens but it's getting tougher by the week and tougher by the decisions he is making ..role on sunday for another piece of the puzzle ! there's one thing for sure ...it isn't boring being an Ipswich fan this season !!!:)

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UEFA81 added 23:21 - Nov 26 I apologise for being so pedantic, but as I previously said in this thread, we are playing on Sunday, not Saturday. I think I should go to bed now - early start tomorrow.
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warwickblue added 23:40 - Nov 26 Shortly before I was branded last week as an idiot who didn't know what I was talking about, (by someone whose comments I won't dignify by naming the author),I suggested that what we needed was a big, strong, mean centre-forward who would get stuck into defenders, pull them around and generally give us a bit of presence in front of goal. Interesting signing.
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nerdys added 23:55 - Nov 26 His scoring record isn't very impressive. only played 7 times for palace !!! not scored a goal this season !!! well what can ya say.. just hope he finds his form for the town.
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nerdys added 23:57 - Nov 26 His scoring record isn't very impressive. only played 7 times for palace !!! not scored a goal this season !!! well what can ya say.. just hope he finds his form for the town.
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