Town have signed 20-year-old Manchester City winger Alex Henshall on loan until the end of the season. Left-sided Henshall had spent time on trial with the Blues squad and played in last week's reserves friendly against Southend with his contract with his parent side up at the end of the season.

Henshall told the club site: “Ipswich is a big club and at this stage of my career, I thought it would be a great opportunity for me.

“I’m looking forward to the experience and especially working under this gaffer, so I can’t wait to get started.

“I need regular football and the Championship is a great standard. I want to come in here, hopefully get some games under my belt and try and do well for the club.

“Ipswich are obviously pushing for promotion, so it’s a great time to come in. I really want to do well for Ipswich and then we will take things from there.”

Swindon-born Henshall, who will wear the Town number 23 shirt, was a youth player with his hometown club but moved to City when 16 in the summer of 2010 having been on the Robins’ bench twice.

A number of other Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, had also shown interest.

The 5ft 10 in tall England U16 and U17 international spent time on loan at Chesterfield making one start and six sub appearances last season and made another league start, in which he scored his first senior goal, and another appearance from the bench while on loan at Bristol Rovers earlier in this campaign.

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

peteswindon added 17:08 - Mar 24 I used to date his mum, will have to see if I can get some comp tickets lol
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Bluetone added 17:14 - Mar 24 @JWM yes he is young, yes he has pace but "loads of potential" is yet to be proved.
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hampstead_blue added 17:16 - Mar 24 So Alex, what's your favorite cheese? What do you think of the fans? Are we a 'sleeping giant'? Do you like the training facilities? Answers on a postcard (for those <40 that's a rectangular piece of card you used to attach a small glue-backed ticket called a stamp) #IamHereAllWeek
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Ebantiass added 17:19 - Mar 24 Give the lad a chance before slagging off this loan deal. I could understand if Mick and Terry had´nt got us near the playoffs and we´d spent half a mil, but lets just see. My twopennthworth is Mick has done miracles on a shoestring lets seee what this kid is made of and for pete sake lets support him while hes here.
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BroskiBeen added 17:40 - Mar 24 I've never heard of him I have to be honest, but a winger is what we need and if he can take people on then that's good, Him on RW and Williams on LW could be good!
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adamisablue added 17:45 - Mar 24 NO WAY! I CANT BELIVE IT! NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS WOULD I BELIVE MAN CITY WOULD HAVE AN ENGLISHMAN IN THEIR SQUAD1
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Seasider added 17:46 - Mar 24 Anybody remember Reece Wabara signed from Man City by PJ,think he was a right back who was acquired on 29 Sept 2011.Dont know how long he stayed but dont think he was much good.Some of these young lads from big clubs have an inflated ego,as I think he did. However with this young man,as he has been on trial here,Mick already has had a good look at him;so this could turn out to be a good signing.I think this would be to replace Hunty rather than the little Wesh Wizard

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bluemikey100 added 17:49 - Mar 24 cud it be micks new michael kightly
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Mark added 18:08 - Mar 24 Graham and Wabara were highly rated youngsters that we never were going to be able to sign permanently, but I presume Henshall is ours if we want him on a free transfer in the summer? If so, the signing makes perfect sense as we can have an extended look at him and decide whether to offer him a longer deal in the summer.
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BlueMachines added 18:20 - Mar 24 Say what you like about MMs team selections/tactics. But one thing for sure, I much prefer his way of signing someone over the previous 2 managers transfer debacles. Used to be rumours strung out for weeks on so and so signing, then a rival would sign him. Now, BAM! Job done, signed sealed delivered before a rumour had appeared anywhere!
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ITFCRealist added 18:24 - Mar 24 Guess Man City have sent him to us to learn to stop dribbling and instead play like a full back.
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JohnB13 added 18:41 - Mar 24 According to BBC website: Ipswich may hand a debut to Alex Henshall - the young winger arrived on loan from Manchester City on Monday and could go straight into the starting XI. Are they taking the p*ss?
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StochesStotasBlewe added 19:06 - Mar 24 Lets face it, his chances at Man City were going to be very limited at best. This could be an astute signing if he knuckles down. Width & pace are one of the things we are seriously lacking so lets give this lad a fair crack of the whip.
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tractordownsouth added 19:06 - Mar 24 Bristol rovers?????????? Are they in the conference? Who was the goal against, Braintree?
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tractordownsouth added 19:09 - Mar 24 I seriously doubt liverpool were interested. Will eat a slice of humble pie if he is good ( which i hope he is )
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runaround added 19:33 - Mar 24 Mick unearthed some diamonds at Wolves so fingers crossed Henshall maybe another Kightly. Welcome to ITFC Alex
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Sebbo added 19:34 - Mar 24 Young hungry player coming to the end of his contract... will be playing for his future and is effectively a longer trial for when he is released by city. Wages will be peanuts and is a pacey winger. No risk whatsoever so this makes sense. If it doesn't work, he goes in a couple of months. Simples
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TimmyH added 19:56 - Mar 24 Is that an arm I see with no tats on it? he'll never make it! :) All the best fella!
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thebeat added 20:17 - Mar 24 This is obviously an extended trial with a view to signing in the summer. Cant moan about this, hes young and will cost nowt in a few months, dont expect him to set the world alight people, he's here to be looked at and see if he settles in.
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Steelmonkey added 20:43 - Mar 24 Hope you get your chance to impress, welcome aboard the big blue tractor.
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horse added 20:56 - Mar 24 Horse No disrespect to this young lad, but what about the four Academy players that have been released ,after having one year contracts, and never given any chance of showing there potential at this Once Great Club for turning out good young footballers, Tom Winter for instance who has been at the Academy since he was eight years old and got injured for the under 21,s back in November 2013 was shown the door after showing Great promise in the under 18,s I will always remember that great goal he scored against Bristol city in the youth cup but Alas he is gone [ Hope he makes it elsewhere]

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blues1 added 20:56 - Mar 24 why has anyone come up with the idea this deal has been done due to Williams going back? and there appears to be a lot of sheep on here tonight, as 1 person suggests it, and loads say the same!!! the guys been here on trial, my guess is, hes done enough for mm to want the chance to see more of him with the view to a permanent signing. the star has said today that Williams is likely to be extending his stay till the end of the season before Thursdays deadline. and even if that didn't happen I cant see this deal anything to do with it as Williams hasn't been playing as a winger anyway. hunt has been the winger the last few games. Williams been playing in an advanced midfield position, so henshall hardly a replacement.

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blueboy1981 added 22:00 - Mar 24 ...... don't know why people are so excited about Williams - excellent player for sure, with much potential - but, he's off back to Crystal Palace / Wigan or wherever sooner rather than later. His future is most definately not here, Much prefer to see one of 'our own' given game time to be honest. As for Henshall - again people get so excited about every player that's mentioned, or comes here, whether they've ever been heard of, or not. Doesn't seem as if he has much in the way of credential, but any wide player with potential can only be a welcome addition to the squad I guess. Wish him well.

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JWM added 22:14 - Mar 24 You're boring Blueboy is there some traffic that you could be playing with!
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BrettenhamBlue added 00:04 - Mar 25 Top Quality left winger who has loads of pace, power and great crosser of the ball. Ideal compliment to Williams. We need a larger squad with more depth and cover and MM has delivered. Really pleased with this signing. We can't expect Williams to play 90 mins every match..
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