Town expect to complete the loan signing of Blackburn striker Luke Varney in time to go into the squad facing Reading at Portman Road on Saturday, we understand.

The Blues are short of strikers with Noel Hunt having picked up a knee injury which is set to sideline him for at least a few games - although Town are still to confirm the length of his absence - and with David McGoldrick having missed the last two matches with a thigh problem.

Football League clubs can sign players on loans of up to 93 days with a deal done this weekend meaning a loanee could stay until the Championship play-off final on Monday 25th May.

Varney, who was initially mentioned in connection with a move to Town earlier in the week, is out of favour at Ewood Park and was close to a move to Millwall prior to the transfer window closing. Brighton and Sheffield Wednesday also understood to have shown interest.

The 32-year-old started his career with Crewe and has subsequently had spells with Charlton, Derby, Sheffield Wednesday, Blackpool, Portsmouth and Leeds before joining Rovers in the summer following a loan at the end of last season.

The Leicester-born 5ft 11in tall striker has made only one start - in the Capital One Cup in August - and 13 sub appearances during 2014/15.

Meanwhile, Reading will have Michael Hector back at the centre of their defence on Saturday, the 22-year-old having recovered from a leg injury.

Photo: Action Images

jas0999 added 17:07 - Feb 19 I wish him well and understandably we need to give him a chance. Personally however, I feel there must have been better options than a 32 year old who doesn't score goals. He also lacks quality and ability. That said, time will tell if this is a good signing or not. I hoped for better.
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jpring89 added 17:11 - Feb 19 good signing in my opinion will score goals. look at n. hunt he was rubbished before he even kicked a ball. he didnt turn out to bad did he. might be just the thing varney needs coming into a team like ours give him a boost and prove a few of the doubters wrong. he will be a good signing
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Bluebongo added 17:12 - Feb 19 Was thinking of a comment to add, but you said it all Stirling Archer, I totally agree.
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warktheline added 17:12 - Feb 19 @itfcrealist, why do you assume Mick didn't want Bent or hasn't tried again for JW? Maybe the club wouldn't pay the caliber of wages Bent would demand. Your hindsight is truly amazing, Bent in for the out of form McGoldrick. It's an easy job, being manager of a club with very limited funds available, wouldn't you agree?
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runningout added 17:13 - Feb 19 Agree McGoldrick has been looking like a spare part for a while... it's a bit sad for all concerned... Varney possibly arriving is sad too, when he has had little chance of getting a game at Rovers ahead fo Gestede and our own Jordan Rhodes
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blue_moon09 added 17:18 - Feb 19 Moan, Moan, Moan, The same idiots are at again you were all moaning when Noel Hunt signed, and you had to eat humble pie because you don't know what your talking about, MM rates LV so give him a chance, that's all.
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blues1 added 17:28 - Feb 19 jas0999. was about to agree with your post but then you spoiled it by saying he lacks quality and ability, and joined all the other negative moaners on here. varney is a good player and will hopefully add plenty to our squad. why do people keep going on about his age? hes 32, just a tad older than murphy, who is having the best season of his career. unlike some years ago when a player over 30 was coming to the end of his career, that no longer is the case as players are so much fitter nowadays than, say, back in the 80s. as for this, we were linked with murray and ended up with varney rubbish? yes, we were linked with murray, by a newspaper. does ne1 know if we were actually interested in him or was it just typical media conjecture? itfc realist, yes ur right, it has been a quiet winter without any idiots on here. but then, you've returned. enough said.

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warktheline added 17:29 - Feb 19 Varney enters Portman rd and is greeted by Mr McCarthy, " hi son, welcome to our motley crew of misfits, has beens, freebies, and underachievers.....by the way we're chasing automatic promotion, so get your arse in gear,and join the party! COYB.
4

runningout added 17:46 - Feb 19 Steady Bluemoon... I for one didn't have a winge about Noel Hunt turning up, although he hasn't played many games yet
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blueblood66 added 17:55 - Feb 19 he has come as BACK UP, clam down you fools.
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CharlieITFC added 18:11 - Feb 19 Everyone is talking about getting someone better - what you have to remember is that we are looking for a squad filler. You aren't going to get a top quality striker who will be willing to play second fiddle to Murphy, McGoldrick and to a lesser extent Sears. Like most, I trust Mick completely and anyone he an TC think can add something to the squad, I will support fully!

5

BYRNE_16 added 18:13 - Feb 19 well aboard!
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Geoff added 18:17 - Feb 19 @Warktheline I never said that ,he kept us up in division 1 but was only postponing the inevitable we were heading down.We are now heading in the other direction we need quality players that can give Mick options on the bench not just back up.
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jas0999 added 18:19 - Feb 19 Blues1 ... Again this page is about opinion. I personally don't rate Varney very highly. I wish him well and hope he performs. He is another bustler with little skill. He doesn't score goals. That can all change and I hope it does, but we can only base OPINION on what we have seen of him in the past. I don't rate him but hope he proves me wrong. Just like Murphy has this season.

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therein61 added 18:21 - Feb 19 If the poor bugger is reading this he will go back home!!(that's if he is on his way) in all the many years I have followed the Town I have always found our fans to be fair!!! but now all we get on here from the minority( I hasten to add )is doom and gloom, for gods sake we are in a great position so get behind the team instead of continually carping, if at the end of the season we are not in the premiership then have your say in your local pub(that's if your not already banned for being a boring pain in the arse) when you go for a pee and look in the mirror because that's the only audience you deserve!!!!!!!!.

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StochesStotasBlewe added 18:30 - Feb 19 Luke Varney is nowhere as poor as some seem to think. He is IMO a better player than Sammon & will hopefully prove to be a reasonable back up striker. IF he signs for us it will be good to have another Murphy type of player on board.
1

oldegold added 18:33 - Feb 19 The case for Jack Marriott at Ipswich instead of Varney is strong and my point of giving him his chance is that we will never know unless he is put to the sword- the Ipswich philosophy is that you never know with young players unless you give them a chance to perform in the first team. Even if he has not set the world alight on loan, I imagine the poor young chap must feel like a turkey who has just seen Bernard Matthews when he sees MM,what with being shuttled around and not feeling loved. Plus if Varney plays now like his Dad use to drive on " On The Buses ", then we should start to cast doubts !

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masetheace added 18:40 - Feb 19 Far too many giving the impression they are experts on Luke Varneys career . Can't help wondering how many times they have actually seem him play . My guess would be that MM and his crew have seen him many more times than all of the whingers on here put together
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NSL added 18:47 - Feb 19 Yes Mick has made some great signings with no money but is capable of poor ones as well - Sammon, Collison, St Ledger, Ebanks-Blake, Cameron Stewart, Frank Nouble, Bajner! In Mick we trust yes, but saying he hasn't put a foot wrong in the transfer market is garbage! Just saying!
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PJH added 19:12 - Feb 19 oldegold-I am neither for or against Jack Marriott but I would observe that if he was thought to be anything like good enough for a Championship promotion challenge at the moment he should surely be good enough to get more than an occasional few minutes for a team at the bottom of League One.
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battyblue added 19:33 - Feb 19 Noel Hunt proved all doubters wrong i not that convinced yet to be honest be lucky if he scores again this season but will eat humble pie if i am wrong, Frank Nouble isn't setting league one alight either but time will tell with Varney some of us will be right and some wrong.
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skinnyman27 added 01:37 - Feb 20 its the championship, you dont have to be great, work hard give 100% and hopefully the ball will fall to him in the right positions and he is more than capable in scoring. up the town and welcome luke
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