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

meekreech added 13:49 - Aug 23 Gives us options . As he is on loan saves a transfer fee and gives us a chance to try before buy . If he does well becomes permanent , if not nothing lost !
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Wickets added 13:54 - Aug 23 The only time we looked likely to conceded at watford was late on when they had 4 big players in the box for set pieces, he would help in this type of situation, there are going to be times when we need more brute force than we have at the moment.
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warwickblue added 13:55 - Aug 23 Centre-half, midfield - as long as he is in the box for free-kicks and corners (at both ends of the pitch) then he will be adding a quality that is currently missing from the squad. We simply don't have anyone who is imposing in the air and we will continue to leak goals ( and fail to score) at set-plays unless this is addressed. Good signing.
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TractorBeezer added 13:55 - Aug 23 Guirane could add a very valuable dimension for us against the more physical teams and when defending a lead of say 2 goals. If he's any good in the air he'll be useful for corner kicks at both ends of the park. I agree that we also need another CB and striker....preferably on a permanent basis.
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TractorBoy666 added 13:57 - Aug 23 Read all the above comments before commenting on this player. He sounds like someone we definitely need. We looked hopeless at times on Tuesday when we had to block shots on goal. The Blackburn goal also was very poor to give away because everybody just watched them head the ball to each other! Very good signing if we can tie it up. Good job PJ.
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orwell12345 added 14:04 - Aug 23 I find it hard to read most post on here. Having watched the game on Tuesday night this was with out doubt the best performance I have seen since we were in the prem all those years ago. We just need to add cover to the CB and another striker and we should be looking for a top 6 position. Paul Jewell has taken stick for buy dads army players then we go with youth and he still gets hammered for it. I for one and happy we have a decent team who all can pull in one direction. Who all look to get the ball down and play.

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DiamondGezzer added 14:09 - Aug 23 cornishnick :- No, he's just showing them his paint work !
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BlueySwede added 14:10 - Aug 23 If Hyam gets dropped now, I will join the Jewell out brigade!
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Bluetone added 14:17 - Aug 23 BlueySwede it might not come to that PJ said “He came here yesterday and I spoke to him this morning, his agents are down the ground with Simon Clegg." This deal has yet to clear the Clegg hurdle.
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raycrawfordswig added 14:21 - Aug 23 Don't let Captain Calamity anywhere near him
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WickedBlue added 14:26 - Aug 23 Poor PJ he's damned if he does he's damned if he doesn't with you lot.
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itfc94 added 14:31 - Aug 23 Looks like a tank to me, which is what we need in the centre of midfield for years! The Guy Moussi sort I just hope he doesn't come in and start because why change a winning formula - Bring him on after 60mins when we're 1-0 up to strengthen the side
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whymark4lazio0 added 14:40 - Aug 23 To those that say he's only here to add experience to a very young midfield. He can only add that experience if he plays at the expense of one of those young midfield players. I admit I'm a bit paranoid on Hyam's behalf but, given the way he's been treated over the last couple of seasons, I'm probably justified. We have started the season playing attacking, possession football. Our young midfield players have shown that they are energetic, committed and skillful. I would hate us to switch to a more robust style based on big, powerful players just because we struggled to adapt to threat posed by Chris Iwelumo for 10 minutes or so. At long last the penny seems to have dropped with more and more English teams that the beautiful game should be based on skill, movement, passing and, most importantly, teamwork. I would hope that ITFC would have similar aspirations. If that means conceding the odd goal from a set piece that's a small price to pay.

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bluey123 added 14:40 - Aug 23 another f----ing loan player in a position we dont need cr-p JEWELL get out you idiot
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ipswichtillidie added 14:53 - Aug 23 Great signing, height and strenght will be needed. Would have preferred a permanent deal to a loan mind. Do hope we make the last couple of signings we need as our players rather than using the loan market anymore. Simon Church was muted as a loan etc.... Great signing PJ bbut NO more loans please......
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TractorBeezer added 14:54 - Aug 23 Some on here are rightfully supporting the current team that are so far doing well. However, by that rationale we would only need 11 players and surely we need to think ahead. It's going to be a long season with inevitable injuries, loss of form (hopefully temporary) and different strategies and tactics required (horses for courses). The game at Watford changed when Iwelumo came on and we shall be facing other more physical teams. Sounds to me as though PJ and his team have thought this through.

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meekreech added 15:17 - Aug 23 We do not know the reasons it is a loan move . Perhaps neither party wanted a permanent move at this stage for some reason ( fit in or adaptability ) and felt this was best all round . Could be they may want him back after the season for themselves .
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itfcbarmyarmy added 15:26 - Aug 23 I wish people would stop moaning about loans, yes we had a few to many this year buit how do expect to get higher league players and players we cant efford.
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Edmunds5 added 15:33 - Aug 23 As a few people have mentioned and PJ mentions he will give us a valuable physical presence to defend set plays. I dont see a problem with this signing, we are light in the middle with 2 young lads who are doing well and Drury too but the Championship is a grinder of a league so we need a larger squad. If he gives us some physicality, strength and athleticism in the midfield he will be a handy player especially if we need to hold onto a lead or a draw and our younger players begin to tirer.

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andygizmo added 15:38 - Aug 23 Edmunds5 and TractorBreezer ---voices of reason amongst a sea of random warbling from those who just want to see young blues play a full season and we end up way down the table. Yes Hyam has done well in the first few games. Can we logically expect him to play that well all season? No. T This guy is big strong imposing and sorts out the opposition. Think how we wanted Derry and so many were pleased when he went to QPR. He was the main reason they went up (that and the fact that Taraabt enjoyed a season in a lower league). N'daw could be our Derry. Welcome on board big man.

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tractorboybeer added 15:46 - Aug 23 Agree with AndyGizmo, we all want the young players to succeed and carry on the fine tradition of the Ipswich Youth, but realistically we will not go up based on youth, they will have bad games / injury's and teams that "run the proverbial rings around them", we have to have some experience and physical presence in the middle. I believe he will bring this to the town. An experienced Pro playing in top leagues as well as the Championship, a very good signing for the team. On loan or ours does not matter if they give 100%, has to be a good balance and i believe this man will certainly help Hyam rather than stall his progress. Those that think otherwise and that we should rely on youth are obviously happy playing in this division or League 1. (But at least they are all young....Muppets)

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bluey123 added 15:54 - Aug 23 Ok you lot who think this is good we have a good team spirit what the hell do you think this will do for morale especially Luke Hyam because he will be the one thats dropped just as last year. We also need another defender a left winger and a striker priority please Jewell. Drury has come on twice and made the difference what will this do to him Jewells man management is awful he should go now before he brings more rubbish in JEWELL OUT

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whymark4lazio0 added 16:01 - Aug 23 If N'Daw has been brought in as cover for Hyam, Luongo and Drury and/or to close out games in the last 20 minutes then that's ok. If he's played at the expense of Hyam (either immediately or as soon as Hyam has one or two poor games) then I would see that as a backward step. These are this muppet's last random warblings on the subject (I thought it was the ITFC way to play the ball and not the man).

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irishtim added 16:02 - Aug 23 bluey123. Take a chill pill. He gives us another option. Pj has not said he is going to drop anyone from the team. So we see this as aguy who can play a different style & close down a game when we need to. Something we dont have at the moment imo.
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Talbs77 added 16:13 - Aug 23 Like a lot of intelligent comments on here, good player but its yet another loan when we need signings for 3-4 years, pj said that himself and I dont want the boy coming in for hyam or ahead og Drury for that matter. Saying that I think pj is doing a good job under tough circumstances as created a good spirit in the squad so lets cut him somde slack as I think he's trying his damndest to get the striker in we need and respect him for his stance on Davies as Derby were trying to dick us over. Although I hope its permanent not a loan.

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