Town manager Paul Jewell says he has been eyeing new loan keeper Alex McCarthy for some while and tried to sign him in the summer. McCarthy, who is set to make his debut at Birmingham this evening, is with the Blues for three months having signed a new permanent contract until 2015 with Reading earlier in the week.

Jewell said: “He first came to my attention when I saw him play at Yeovil a couple of years ago and when we played against Reading last season I thought he was excellent - a big presence in goal, calm.

“We tried to get him in the summer but there was no way Reading would sell him. However, with Adam Federici and Mikkel Andersen they’re quite well off for goalkeepers and they want them to play. He’s signed a new deal and he’s played for the England U21s.

“They think he’s got huge potential and it suits them for him to be playing games in the Championship. We’re delighted to have him.”

In a perfect world Jewell says he’d prefer to have signed a keeper on a permanent basis but feels there are limited options out there: “We’d like to sign Alex McCarthy [permanently], to be honest. There is a lack of really top quality keepers about and it gives us that little bit of extra time to try and get over this season and try to get one in for the start of next season.

“I don’t think there’s [a chance of extending the loan] because if we had him for the season that would stop him being available for the play-offs and Reading were keen to protect themselves.”

He admits the 24-hour recall is far from perfect: “That doesn’t kick in until after the first month but that’s the same with anyone. It’s a three-month loan and for the first 28 days they can’t recall him. After that there’s a 24-hour recall, which is what normally happens with any player.

“It’s not ideal, but it gives us a little bit of time to have a good look at Alex and for him to have a good look at us.”

Meanwhile, sacked QPR boss Neil Warnock, who has been linked with the Blues and his former side Plymouth, says he’s undecided about his immediate plans but has already received a variety of approaches: “I’m not sure what I want to do right now, but I’ve been inundated with offers in football and media work, and maybe an advisory role somewhere might be attractive.”

Photo: Action Images

Sindre94 added 14:14 - Jan 11 Aha ok, this is nothing new really. Glad we have him here now, a hungry young player who HAS to prove him self and a loan is excellent for us (dont need to spend any cash in january because players are MUCH more expensive) COYB! Clean sheet today eh?
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Wickets added 14:22 - Jan 11 Trouble is loans, contracts close to ending, personal problems, ect are costing us dear. Just too much uncertanty!! we need a settled squad.
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jas0999 added 14:49 - Jan 11 Still think this is a pointless signing - will be more interested in Reading than playing for us. He may use it as good practice, but care about ITFC? No. PJ OUT. Releasing two permanent GK's and signing two loanees? Simply bizarre. We are not building for the future - is that a 5-year plan?
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Marcus added 15:03 - Jan 11 With so much negativity from the stands who would want to sign on a permanent basis?
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BROTHERBLUE1974 added 15:03 - Jan 11 Yeah yeah, yawn yawn. Get a keeper in who will be town no1. Not another loan keeper. Jog on jewell u clown.....
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Garv added 15:41 - Jan 11 Jas0999 what's bizarre is the fact that Keane made our 'keeper the highest paid player at the club on wages we couldn't afford. Why do you think we had to sell him for free? Think.
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buryblue77 added 16:00 - Jan 11 But where's St Ledger?
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PSGBlue added 16:26 - Jan 11 Instead of a season where we would be adding a loan player to the squad to enhance the team, we are now just desperately getting anyone in in the hope of beating the drop. What a sad state of affairs our club is now in, the idea when Evans came in was to get to the promised land of the Premiership - "Premiership, you're having a laugh" PJ - do what you must to keep us out of the bottom three this season, but you, Clegg and Evans have run this club as a joke this season. By the start of next season I expect PJ and Clegg to have gone!

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PauloJulio added 17:11 - Jan 11 Yawn!!!
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buryblue77 added 17:24 - Jan 11 If only there hadn't been such apathy amongst the players maybe Shane wouldn't have felt the need to retire and we'd have one of the best keepers in the division, or more than likely Keane would have sold him for a couple of bob and a packet of fags.
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RetroBlue added 20:44 - Jan 11 Im sure this GK is a very good player. But its still a pointless bloody signing as he is most definitely returning to his own Club , before the season ends. Pointless absolutely pointless signing !
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richnblue added 20:54 - Jan 11 yeah, the advisory role Warnock refers to is on the eastern side of the british isles, lies just above colchester.... Meanwhile, St Ledger is stuck in traffic, having been provided the same tom tom that the last just about to arrive players were provided with....FFS
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