Town boss Paul Jewell says St Etienne midfielder Guirane N’Daw will undergo a medical this afternoon and is likely to complete a season-long loan move to the Blues by tomorrow.

Jewell said: “He came here yesterday and I spoke to him this morning, his agents are down the ground with Simon Clegg.

“As far as I’m aware, everything is agreed with St Etienne for him to come on loan for the season and he’s having a medical this afternoon.

“That doesn’t mean he’s signed but we’re very hopeful and by this time tomorrow everything will be done and dusted. Even if it is, I don’t think he’ll be available for Saturday [due to international clearance].

“It’s an area of the team where we are light, we are small, set plays can find us out at times. So, we need to add a bit of strength and power to the squad.

“Whoever comes in, it doesn’t mean they go straight into the team, a place in the team has to be earned.”

He says N'Daw has been on his radar for some time: “I spoke to [former Birmingham manager] Chris Hughton about him in the summer. He’s one we’ve been tracking for a while. He speaks very highly of him, he’s a Senegalese international.

“I think when he was in their team their results were strong. I remember watching him a match against West Ham when he got injured but was outstanding up to then.

“He never played against us as he was injured and because he’d just come back from the African Nations Cup. He’s a good player, he’s strong and powerful.”

While the 28-year-old can play at centre-half, Jewell views him very much as an additional midfield option: “He can play there, but we see him as a midfield player. We’ve got some good midfield players here, we want to add competition and help the group.”

Meanwhile, Jewell says he has still heard nothing new from Aston Villa regarding left-back Aaron Cresswell.

The Blues boss refused to be drawn on continuing speculation regarding a loan move for Reading striker Simon Church.

He also confirmed that Cameroonian trialist Yann Songo’o will not be offered a contract having been at the club for two weeks and having played for the U21s at Swansea on Monday.

Photo: Action Images

bluemin_nora added 13:07 - Aug 23 Another midfielder? Not particularly high priority in my books.
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chopsitfc added 13:12 - Aug 23 bluemin_nora did you not read he can play at centre back???? A big physical player is just what you need to get out of this league.
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Big_Foot_Blue added 13:12 - Aug 23 why isnt it a high priority? We have Luongo Hyam and Drury... now If one of those gets injured on suspended or loses form what will we do? and If more than one of them suffers from any of the above then we really are screwed, cover is good, by the looks of it it will probably turn into a permanent next year if he does well and we really need strength, could be priceless to bring on if were winning and needing to defend set pieces to hold on.

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ITFC_Frosty78 added 13:13 - Aug 23 but decent signing coz even though we didnt concede iwelumo still just got the better of chambers and smith (just) and im sure hell be a good aerial threat in the other teams penalty area via corners etc.
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whymark4lazio0 added 13:14 - Aug 23 Let's hope he's been brought in as cover for centre-halve. I prefer Ipswich to play with skillful, mobile midfield players. I suppose he could be strong, powerful, skillful and mobile but somehow I doubt it.
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casanovacrow added 13:14 - Aug 23 big striker, CB, left winger, LB cover would've been bigger priorities for me. But the guy does give you safeguards on defending set plays. Could be useful if we resort to a diamond again this season.
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bluemin_nora added 13:15 - Aug 23 Jewell hasn't signed him as a cetral defender though. “He can play there, but we see him as a midfield player. We've got some good midfield players here, we want to add competition and help the group.”
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Lightningboy added 13:16 - Aug 23 Fine BUT hopefully not at the expense of Hyam,Luongo or Drury...show a little more faith in what's right under your nose this season please Jewell.
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wrightyblue added 13:17 - Aug 23 Great! Another loan just what we want!!! NOT. Just hope jewell doesn't pick him ahead off hyam, loungo!
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AndyUK61873 added 13:18 - Aug 23 nice to see no-oine reads the managers comments....so let me help you here... While the 28-year-old can play at centre-half, Jewell views him very much as an additional midfield option: “He can play there, but we see him as a midfield player. We've got some good midfield players here, we want to add competition and help the group.” Just in case you missed, we se him as a MIDFIELD player....so those going on about cover for centre half....that is not why he is here, he is here to add experience to a very young midfield.

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wrightyblue added 13:19 - Aug 23 And by the way we need a cb, winger, and a striker!
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wrightyblue added 13:19 - Aug 23 Jewell clegg out!!!
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petieboy2011 added 13:20 - Aug 23 I have to admit - I did think about whether we needed another midfielder, but after reading the article above it seems a logical move to me. I also hope the rumours about Simon Church are true as well. COYB's
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Dog added 13:22 - Aug 23 wrightyblue out!!!
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bedsitfc added 13:23 - Aug 23 cool but as everyone has said i still feel we need height up front and cover at the back. maybe davies from barnsley and wilson and murphy from celtic.
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RYITFC added 13:24 - Aug 23 Good signing, we need some physicality in our team. Would have prefered a permenent deal, we already another central midfielder on a year loan, meaning next season we will have to bring in 2 more replacements for the same postion again. I would expect we could do a deal for a fairly low fee as they seem to want rid.
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SuperReuser added 13:26 - Aug 23 haha when wre linked to him a matter of hours ago people are like 'this will never happen, would be good if it does'... now we sign him its like 'we dont need a midfielder'.... cannot win!
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wrightyblue added 13:26 - Aug 23 Dog OUT so this is building for the future then? Get real
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irishtim added 13:28 - Aug 23 We need to keep cressy big time. 6 million plus up front or forget it imo.
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tractorboy12341234 added 13:28 - Aug 23 town could be the beastiest team in the championship with JET and NDAW, we just need HESKEY to arrive and then make a move for AKINFENWHA jks. Still think we should of kept Sonks instead of Delaney.
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cornishnick added 13:30 - Aug 23 Agents down with Cleggy now? Should we be worried??
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RRanger added 13:35 - Aug 23 Maybe the moaners posting on this site could tell me how many current full internationals we have in our midfield (or indeed our team) at the moment,let alone from a country with the football pedigree of Senegal.
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WaltownBlueNaze added 13:45 - Aug 23 Should be an excellent signing - shame its only a loan deal - we have been crying out for a strong, imposing midfielder for ages. His experience will only help the development of the likes of Hyam and Luongo. Well Done PJ - just need another CB and CF - then the play offs are a possibility.
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JohnnyCougar added 13:47 - Aug 23 And almost 200 games in Ligue 1 and also experience of Championship football.
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reusersfreekicks added 13:49 - Aug 23 Would be gutted if he plays instead of Hyam who has started well. Still always get the impression that Hyam plays despite Jewel's view of him not because of it. Actually saw this bloke play for Birmingam against West Ham (don't ask!) and he played well helping repel West Ham's physical long ball approach. When he went off they were more vulnerable.
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