Town have re-signed former midfielder Darren Ambrose on a short-term deal until January. The 30-year-old had been training with the Blues in recent weeks and has twice featured for the U21s.

Ambrose, who will wear the number 29 shirt, joins John Wark, Tommy Miller, Richard Wright and Daryl Murphy as one of a select few players to have had three or more spells with the Blues.

Having come through the Town academy, he made his senior debut at Arsenal close to the end of the Blues' 2001/02 Premier League campaign.

After establishing himself in the Town side after relegation, he was sold less than a year later to Newcastle for £1 million as the club sought to raise cash having gone into administration. He had made only 25 starts and 12 sub appearances, scoring 11 goals.

Ambrose subsequently moved to Charlton before rejoining the Blues for two months on loan during the 2008/09 season but failed to win a permanent deal having made a further six starts and three sub appearances without adding to his Town goals.

A spell with Crystal Palace followed before he joined Birmingham in July 2012.

The Harlow-born player was released by the Midlanders at the end of last season following a loan spell with Greek side Apollon Smyrni.

Ambrose, who moved back to West Suffolk earlier in the summer, played for Colchester against the Blues in pre-season before joining up with the Town squad to train three weeks ago.

Meanwhile, ex-West Ham man Jack Collison has been spotted back with the Blues squad. Like Ambrose the 25-year-old has been training at Playford Road in recent weeks.

Elsewhere, Crystal Palace have reiterated that they have received no loan offers for ex-Blues loanee Jonny Williams, despite a number of Championship clubs - including Town - having registered their interest.

Photo: ITFC

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itfc1981 added 12:06 - Sep 11 TIs this be creativity I see before mine eyes?
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StuartBrett8 added 12:07 - Sep 11 Collison back training with the blues also... hmm interesting
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TimmyH added 12:20 - Sep 11 @itfc1981 - not really, Championship level will probably give his knees a good working over. A 30 year old who has played relatively little competitive football in the last couple of years - not expecting too much.
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cornishnick added 12:21 - Sep 11 Still only 30 and if he can get back to anything like his best, would be a great signing. But it is a big IF. Don't quite understand how once good players can lose it so quickly. Remember Stuart Slater, Ian Westlake?
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mojo added 12:24 - Sep 11 All the best Darren. It didn't quite work out the last time you were here. Will be a good impact sub I feel and will improve our set piece delivery. This report has got me wondering if we have had any player that has played in 4 spells for the club and who it is? Richard Wright?
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ipswich134 added 12:27 - Sep 11 John Wark?
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BroskiBeen added 12:28 - Sep 11 Don't know what to make of this, hope he does well and everything, but to me this seems like another Mid-Table signing, Ambrose is decent but is he really going to be a spark to send us up the table, hopefully we can get in Collison and Jonny Williams again because for starters they are younger so can be around in their prime longer have experience of Premier League last season and can give a spark. I'm not saying Ambrose is a bad player I just personally think he's not what he used to be, although having said that I hope he proves me wrong

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oldegold added 12:30 - Sep 11 Wonderful signing and I am pleased as punch that he is back.Ipswich boy who didn't want to go away in 2003...fingers crossed it can work out but I am rooting for him.Was a tremendous young player and let's hope he can rekindle his career at Portman Road. Great news !
4

StowTractorBoy added 12:31 - Sep 11 Sorry but cannot get excited about this as Darrens best years are behind him. Think he will be just a squad player but obviously hope he can recapture the form when with us previously but have my doubts. Good luck though Darren and welcome home.
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Superfrans added 12:44 - Sep 11 Unsure about this, tbh. But it will be very interesting to see where we play Ambrose. Wide, or in central midfield, fulfilling the Wordsworth role...
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MVBlue added 13:00 - Sep 11 He simply reminds me of how far we fell.
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paulthebluealien added 13:07 - Sep 11 No doubt Ambrose is a good player still. Hopefully he will find a bit of form and prove really useful for us. COYB.
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Superblue95 added 13:08 - Sep 11 Mojo- daryl Murphy is in his 4th spell with us having had 3 loan spells beforehand. Regarding this deal I have my doubts, would much rather have signed Collison but hopefully that deal can still be done too. Having said that he was fantastic during his spell at palace, I remember when they came to Portman Road a few years ago and Ambrose tore us apart and scored 2 goals. Hope we see that player as opposed to the awful one who rocked up on loan

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groundhog added 13:13 - Sep 11 i remember when walky came back on a short term deal to become a stalwart for a number of seasons. Worth a shot.
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jas0999 added 13:22 - Sep 11 There is no doubting his ability nor the fact we desperately need more players and creativity in midfield. However, his recent performances at other clubs have not been great prompting whether he is past his best. That said can't be any worse than the current midfield. Therefore, a decent signing.
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marshallmania added 13:22 - Sep 11 Welcome back, Lets see some the old magic to light up Portman Road:) Great record at Newcastle by the way, can't believe we only got a million for him
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marshallmania added 13:23 - Sep 11 Welcome back, Lets see some the old magic to light up Portman Road:) Great record at Newcastle by the way, can't believe we only got a million for him Is Collison following?
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joepublic added 13:25 - Sep 11 I sat directly behind Darren for the Narwich game in the upper tier Churchman's. How I wished he had been on the pitch that day to make some decisive forward passes. Good luck and welcome back!
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mojo added 13:31 - Sep 11 Thanks Superblue - All those loan spells seemed to blur into one after a while.
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chorltonskylineblue added 13:37 - Sep 11 I know Palace fans that raved about him. It's not trute that he didn't excel when he left us. He scored a 35-yarder against Man U in the League Cup QF in 2011-12 season at Old Trafford and set up the other in a 2-1 win. It's not that long ago. Not sure why he went to Brum or where it went wrong from there, but 30 is not that old and where better to try and resurrect his career?! Welcome back Dazza!

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TotalBlue added 13:44 - Sep 11 Now there's a list of decent players "John Wark, Tommy Miller, Richard Wright and Daryl Murphy" come on Darren prove your the best of all of them COYB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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roytheboy added 13:49 - Sep 11 I was disappointed when he left and I am pleased and optimistic now he has come back, good luck lad.
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AYACCA added 13:52 - Sep 11 Good to see our youth players given a shot at the first team. Now lets go and get Darren Bent on loan and we've got ourselves a team.
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Cloddyseedbed added 13:57 - Sep 11 As someone commented before, a cheap option once again. His name maybe the same but this is not the player that left Portman Road years ago.
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Carrotblue added 14:01 - Sep 11 Interesting Can go either way
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