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

onetowatch added 17:33 - Aug 30 Oh come on is this a joke lol ! WE NEED NEW BLOOD. We finished bottom of goalscoring charts last season and we still got the same strikers. We need to splash the cash and sign new strikers and get rid of donkeys up front.
0

blue979 added 18:31 - Aug 30 sort of similar to the whole john wark thing :) came back trained then inluded then we went on to win division 2 yes kids division 2. not saying we're league winners out of this but he is a great goal scorer for town and a brilliant option if needed. looking forward to seeing his name on the score sheet in the future.
0

runningout added 18:32 - Aug 30 All a bit sad now........... Alan Lee might be 'Good around the place' but agree we are desperate for a no nonsense clinical, younger goal scorer
0

h32 added 22:59 - Aug 30 ....... on the end of 'hoof' ball style of play (which seems may be the order of the day) - he could be effective. But is this what we really want to see ?? - seems by the posts that some still have much faith in him as a player. Am I surprised ? - not really - for all the wrong reasons I'm afraid ........ !!
0

BrettenhamBlue added 23:33 - Aug 30 A shrewd move by McCarthy. Personally, I think he will be used a great deal more than we think. He will (most likely) compete up front with Murphy and Nouble for a place. Lee is way better in the air than Murphy and his movement is superior. Nouble has done nothing so far so he's not even in the same league as Lee. As far as I can tell, Lee would get an automatic starting place up-front with either McColdrick or Taylor to play alongside. 35 or not, he's our best target man. He has heart, never stops moving- never gives up and is brave. I'd pick him before Murphy and Nouble every time, but would expect to have to sub him at 60 mins pretty much every game.....

0

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls