Town boss Roy Keane has confirmed that Tottenham midfielder Jake Livermore is joining the Blues on loan, as predicted on last night’s The Naked Football Show. The 20-year-old will provide competition for the likes of Luke Hyam, Grant Leadbitter, David Norris and Colin Healy.

Keane says Livermore, who is expected to be at Portman Road until January having initially signed until November 13th, is someone he’s been targeting for several weeks: “He’s a player I’ve been interested in for a while and with Tottenham getting knocked out of the Carling Cup Harry’s given us permission to speak to the boy.

“He’s a very good player, he has massive potential like Andros and he’ll hopefully come in do well for us. I think we’re short in that area of the club in terms of competition and we’ve got a lot of games coming up. We’re looking forward to working with him."

Livermore, 5ft 11in tall, spent time on loan in the Championship with Derby and Peterborough last season, having previously been on a temporary spell at the MK Dons. The midfielder has made one start, Tuesday’s Carling Cup defeat to Arsenal, and one sub appearance for his parent club. He also played the first 74 minutes of the friendly at Portman Road in August.

Keane says he is continuing to look for further additions: “I’m still after two more players, there are two positions we still need cover but having said that the way the players are performing at the moment they are making it hard in terms of getting players who are better than we’ve already got.

“We’re nowhere near [making further signings]. I’ve had brief conversations with one or two other managers and it’s a case of wait and see.

“There are some good options out there, a lot will have been dictated by the results in the Carling Cup and we’ll see how that pans out over the next few days. I think Jake will be the only player signing today.”

Keane says there were no new injuries suffered during Tuesday’s Carling Cup win at Millwall with Shane O’Connor (hamstring) and Alan Quinn (groin) the only players currently sidelined.

Meanwhile, Town have been linked with Swansea striker Craig Beattie. The 26-year-old Scotland international, who was at Celtic at the same time as Keane, is currently out injured having picked up a thigh problem in training soon after recovering from a calf injury.

Beattie, 26, joined the Swans from West Brom in 2007 and has previously had loan spells with Preston, Crystal Palace and Sheffield United. The Glasgow-born frontman is yet to appear for Swansea this season.

Photo: Action Images

bluelady added 11:02 - Sep 23 Great news but for me right back far more important! Oh and I'd take beattie, think he has massive potentia
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OsborneOneNil added 11:07 - Sep 23 This signing will help Keano put some pressure on Leadbitter, who thus far, hasn't performed quite to the level he can.
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StowTractorBoy added 11:22 - Sep 23 Why do people on here keep knocking Healy. OK not a world beater but he is a footballer and he was cheap. Please leave the guy alone - he is as good a passer of the ball that we have but obviously not good enough to be a regular. No thank you to Beattie who flatters to decieve.
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comeonthegoodtimes added 11:51 - Sep 23 I agree with you StowtractorBoy, I actually think Healy has a 100% record this year in a town shirt all be it through the Cup but he seems to be progressing nicely and no one has said he would be first choice. I guess some people think we should have the finished artical straight away..... Plus players like Healy are good to give the likes of Norris Hyam and Leadbitter a rest in the cup games......

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Dale added 12:43 - Sep 23 @O2BITFC You can only register players for the 25 man squad twice a year after each transfer window and players who are 21 or younger at the first registration does not need to be registered to play.
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simonsays added 13:06 - Sep 23 Who?
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O2BITFC added 13:07 - Sep 23 Hey Dale, I've been thinking about this and wonder if a home grown player under 21 actually reaches 21 during the interim does he automatically become elligble to be counted as one of the 25. If not then why is the loan period only up to the day before his 21st birthday, no way it can be just a coincidence. Can anyone clarify this for me?
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DanLyles added 13:20 - Sep 23 I've only seen Livermore play against Arsenal (on Tuesday) and to be fair he was working hard, put his foot in (maybe a bit too hard!!!) and brought the ball forward well. Judging him against the likes of Wishere, Nasri, Eboue and Rosicky is completely unfair though as their passing and movement was incredibly quick and accurate. So difficult to play against, especially for a side not used to playing together. Nobody in the Championship will come even remotely close to playing at that level. I expect Livermore to definitely feature in our 4-5-1 formation away from home (maybe Scunny will come too quickly though) and maybe even break into our 4-4-2 at home. Norris, Leadbitter and Hyam will have to give even more than they do atm, knowing that Livermore can come in at any time. Much more of a threat to their places than Healy anyway!!!

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Zico added 13:22 - Sep 23 He'll do, nice signing Keane
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Ipswich24 added 13:31 - Sep 23 I really thought could be Gio but this guy must be talented to we could now do with a right back could get naughton and does anyone know if steve finnan is still without a club would be ideal plus is irish
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wazza added 13:48 - Sep 23 Sounds another useful player to have adding depth to the squad and i know keane may have wanted more experience and has explained the diffiuclies. does anyone know if we have the youngster squad in the league ?
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Superfrans added 13:56 - Sep 23 Interesting one this. Given our advance in the Carling Cup, we will need more bodies. But Central midfield wouldn't be where I would have thought we'd need strengthening. If anything, I thought he lacked something when Townsend went off on Tuesday - when he isn't playing or is off-form, we're going to struggle to create. Hopefully this boy can help in that area, especially if he is also going to be able to chip in with some goals from midfield too. One thing - I hope this doesn't set Hyam back. I've been very very impressed with him. he's a great young player with a big future, I reckon - possibly as big as Connor's. We need to stick with him and give him games.

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stinkiusminkius added 13:56 - Sep 23 Not a bad signing at all. The main plus point is that it knocks Healy further down the pecking order. Sorry to the 2 Healy fans on here, but frankly he just isn't good enough. Even if he was cheap.
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I_8_NARWICH added 14:29 - Sep 23 good luck to the lad hes going to have a job on his hands to get in the first team though as Norris and Leadbitter have been class so far this season, but i recon he will provide good cover if they get injured or suspended :D COYB!!
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bluelady added 14:53 - Sep 23 if he can play on the right too does give cover for Edwards but also means we can sub Edwards when he starts to fade as often happens.... if we get a right back though where will it leave jamie P? id hate to see the lad dropped but can quite see where he would fit in?
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corshamblue added 15:00 - Sep 23 Great Signing. The 21st Birthday thing is a bit of unknown, I'm sure it's because he can play unregistered until his birthday but needs to be listed to play beyond that . . . but then it adds he's expected to play until January?
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8ashblue added 15:19 - Sep 23 so he's on trial, if he cuts it then he'll stay until January or longer
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haynes_is_a_ledgend added 15:25 - Sep 23 yay
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Ipswich24 added 15:32 - Sep 23 I really thought could be Gio but this guy must be talented to we could now do with a right back could get naughton and does anyone know if steve finnan is still without a club would be ideal plus is irish
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Ipswich24 added 15:35 - Sep 23 I really thought could be Gio but this guy must be talented to we could now do with a right back could get naughton and does anyone know if steve finnan is still without a club would be ideal plus is irish
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O2BITFC added 15:40 - Sep 23 @Gazza, I don't know if we have the youngest squad in the Championship but I would imagine we probably do. I can tell you that the average age of our squad is 22.94 years. Our youngest player is, obviously, Connor at 17 years and 6 months, we have 13 teenagers in the squad and five 20 year olds. Our oldest player is Mark Kennedy at 34 and we have 5 other players in their thirties.

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bens_a_blue added 16:06 - Sep 23 Doesn't matter that he turns 21 midway through November, the rule is players under the age of 21 at Sept 1st in any given season, therefore he wont activate the over 21 clause until next season!
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O2BITFC added 16:19 - Sep 23 I have checked and double checked the regulations regarding the 25 man squad, 8 home grown players rule and cant find anything which would explain the initial loan period only being up to his 21st birthday, maybe Jake's current contract runs out on his 21st birthday so have to make sure he re-signs before the loan period can continue up to January. As I see it it makes no difference how old you are if you are deemed to be a Home Grown player, the only restriction I see is that you cant have more than 17 over 21's in your squad that arn't home grown.

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brian_a_mul added 16:57 - Sep 23 Has anyone noticed that it was Spurs that were putting in serious bids for Wickham in the summer??? There has obviously been talks between the clubs for a while now. Maybe its a case of you scratch my back & I'll scratch yours regarding transfers. Im not saying there is a deal with Wickham is in place but I think if WE do decide to sell Wickham than Spurs will have first refusal if more than one club meet asking price. I think the club have done good businness with Spurs. These lads have tremendous potential. If Townsend & Livermore do well this season and we get promoted in May, there is a good chance we could get these lads permanently. Well done Mr Keane, Mr Evans et al.

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depressed added 17:19 - Sep 23 brian a mull......I can see where your coming from regarding Wickham, but generally believe its a case of Redknapp wanting his youngsters to get some regular football. If Townsend and Livermore do well and theres an option to buy then great. I do wonder though whether Brian Klugg had any influence with the loan signings
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