Former Blues striker Alan Lee has rejoined the Town first team squad on a non-contract basis. Last month, TWTD revealed that manager Mick McCarthy was weighing up offering the 35-year-old a chance to extend his playing career.

The former Ireland international — who we understand was interesting Crawley and Colchester earlier in the summer following his release by Huddersfield — has continued to train with the first team and also scored in an U21 pre-season friendly against the U's and has now been formally added to the squad.

“Alan Lee is one of our youth coaches and I’ve signed him on a non-contract basis so he is available to play,” McCarthy said.

“He’s not in the squad for the weekend, but he’s available to play. I could play him because he trains with us and he’s still physically fit.

"He’s great around the place and he’s great with the kids, so it’s a good deal for us and for him.”

The Blues boss says Lee offers something that his other four strikers don’t: “They’re all different, he’s not David McGoldrick or Big Frank or Paul Taylor or Murph, he’s a different character altogether.

“I’ve done it because I think he’s somebody I could use during the season. And he’s a fabulous character and a lovely man.”

The 6ft 2in tall frontman started his career with Aston Villa and spent time on loan with Torquay and Port Vale while with the Villans.

Galway-born Lee subsequently moved on to Burnley, Rotherham and Cardiff before joining the Blues for a fee £100,000 in January 2006.

The striker, who is based at Dedham, went on to make 96 starts and 13 sub appearances for Town, scoring 34 goals, prior to moving on to Crystal Palace in August 2008.

While with the Eagles he spent a short spell on loan at Norwich City towards the end of the 2008/09 relegation season before joining the Terriers in the summer of 2010.

Photo: Action Images

Incublue added 09:32 - Aug 30 i bet he would score more goals than Murphy if played in the same position.
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SouperJim added 09:45 - Aug 30 Some people have very short memories! 34 goals in 96 starts is a very respectable return for any striker. When you consider that he managed that return despite the fact that he's far from the greatest technical footballer to ever grace portman road... Alan Lee is an effective striker because he has a superb attitude, is not afraid of hard work, loves being the pantomime villain and loves winning football matches. He is also really big and strong and is excellent at making life difficult for defenders. Sounds like a classic Mick McCarthy type center-forward for me and if he gets the odd appearance where he does some damage then I for one will be made up. He's already working at the club and we've simply registered him as a player, there's very little risk as far as I can see. Some people will whinge that he's "crap", but these are probably the same people who think all our problems would be solved by signing a "20 goal-a-season striker".

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StowTractorBoy added 09:58 - Aug 30 This to me was always going to happen and can't see any problem with it at all. If we have the need we can use him, if not then nothing lost as he is on the staff already. Certianly made a few impact appearances for Hudders last season.
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CornardBlue added 10:02 - Aug 30 Nothing to loose on this one, if we are paying him to coach nothing wrong with signing him up to play.
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muccletonjoe added 10:05 - Aug 30 I am of the opinion that it was a daft to let him, now he is back I would play him ahead of murphy every time for obvious reasons , mind you , I would play marriott ahead of them both but that is another story
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ormey75 added 10:18 - Aug 30 Great, this signing will have town fans dancing in the streets, wake me up when we actually sign someone half decent, roll on next season, Evans out!!
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WickedBlue added 10:39 - Aug 30 To the idiot who thinks we let him go because he wasn't good enough for us. He was let go because he fell out with the then manager. Can't remember if it was Magilton or Keane. The bottom line is he is a quality player and goal scorer who can still do a job for us especially on the terms Mick has signed him.
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essextractorboy93 added 10:41 - Aug 30 He is not going to play every single match so why all the negative comments? He still has something to offer now and then and can help with the young players. He was still decent at Huddersfield for the last few years. Might be what the other strikers need to start finding the net!
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Surco72 added 10:48 - Aug 30 Happy about this think he would be ideal on the bench when we resort to hoof ball as we have in every game this season ,big strong and links well ideal for this league as an impact player ,now get Garvan,Trotter and Rhodes back and we may have a chance this year !!!
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yorksblue added 11:15 - Aug 30 Would have him starting from now on. When was the last time we had a striker who could be a handful to opposition defences? Hmmm - must have been when Alan Lee was with us before!
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Garv added 11:30 - Aug 30 Can he replace Nouble please. Cheers.
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algarvefan added 11:52 - Aug 30 Bloody hell some of you on here are right moaners!! He's already at the club coaching and would be a great asset to bring of the bench in a tight game, but most of all he knows where the goal is and has always scored wherever he's been. If Mick says he's fit I believe him so it's a 'no brainer' for me. Well done Mick, good business IMO
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Jimmy86 added 12:04 - Aug 30 Cant believe no one has gone in for leroy lita yet coz i believe he's on a free. He certainly knows where the net is and is rapid!!! Spose wages would be a prob, shame we never looked at him
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ChrisMakin2012 added 12:06 - Aug 30 We all know this is a ridiculous, but no one dares say it.
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Michael11 added 12:27 - Aug 30 Yes, he is just a big lump up front, but after watching the Leeds game on saturday, that's probably what we need if that's the kind of football we're going to play. I can guarantee he would have won 10x more headers than Murphy did. It makes sense to have him signed up in case we have an injury crisis but I think proper investment on a top striker is needed.
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meekreech added 12:29 - Aug 30 If any of you have been watching the U-21's you would be seeing that Marriot is not yet ready to step up . Lee has more to offer at the moment but will probably not get many games , maybe a few from the bench , and will be used to mess defenders about as he can be a handful .
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JWM added 12:43 - Aug 30 This news tells you all you need to know about the complete lack of interest and ambition that ME has for our club. In a word we are "Fooked".
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PSGBlue added 12:59 - Aug 30 On par with Lee Chapman, Lee Bowyer and Adam Proudlock. Yes he may get the odd goal, but probably a deflected shot off his backside! Desperate times if this is our only signing before Monday!
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muccletonjoe added 13:29 - Aug 30 "Meekreech" yes have been watching under 21s and you cannot say marriott is not ready for step up. You learn a lot from first team football and wo know how much the lad would improve. Considering our strike rate I really don't see the problem
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BlueVelvet added 13:35 - Aug 30 treat him like a hired gun - paid on performance, games means £'s and goals means £'s
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Fen69 added 13:52 - Aug 30 Think Lee could easily turn games for us and be our Super Sub, big frank seems way out of his depth in the Championship & has not looked sharp/good enough since P'Boro away last season!
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TrueBlue93 added 13:55 - Aug 30 Alan Lee.... GOAL.. Always believe he will score
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GeorgiDoundarov added 14:28 - Aug 30 I don't agree with the negative comments! AT ALL!!! First off Lee comes on a non binding basis so we as a club don't lose anything even if he does not perform at all! Therefore no harm for the financials. The reason Mick is getting Lee is more because of his huge experience and his character. All of the young strikers can only get positives from him as a coach when they train altogether. On top of that he has a great personality — a great guy to have in the dressing room. He can inspire the younger players when the things are not going our way. This is more of an indirect impact that Lee can have for us. In addition he is a great scorer so Mick can certainly involve him as an impact player on a game where we are deadlocked or losing. He, by just getting on the field can give a positive vibe and turn things around. And why not scoring some goals — we know he is quite capable of doing that. Nobody things of Lee as our 20+ goals scorer, we should not expect that from him. What we should expect him to do is get the spirit up and positively influence a losing game. Come on Alan!!! Show them what can you do!!!

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SheffieldBlue1 added 15:54 - Aug 30 I personally can't wait for the moment when i'm watching final score and it pops up that Ipswich have scored, and that the goal scorer was Alan Lee... As I will Immediately leap up from my seat and start yelling 'ALAN LEE...GOAL!..." into the confused faces of my housemates for a good couple of minutes at least. And his signing will be worth it. For that one glorious moment.

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Dissboyitfc added 17:13 - Aug 30 Warwickblue,,,, no not my horse, but a great picture of the suffolk punch proudly wearing blue and white scarf whilst trampling on a budgie scarf.... COYB
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