Midfielder Adam McDonnell has joined his former loan side Aldershot on a permanent basis, signing a deal which runs until the summer of 2019.

McDonnell, 20, was well down the pecking order at Town with his contract up at the end of the season.

“Being here has made me a better player and will help me fulfil my potential,” McDonnell told Aldershot's official site.

“[Manager] Gary Waddock and [his assistant] James Rowe have put a lot of trust in me, and with the way that we play I’d be stupid not to come back here.

“I wasn’t being promised the game time that I needed at Ipswich Town to make me a better player, so sometimes you have to come down to go back up. At this club, that will definitely make me a better player.

We are delighted that midfielder Adam McDonnell has rejoined Aldershot Town on a permanent deal from @Official_ITFC until the end of the 2018-19 season.

Welcome back @AdamMcDonnell97!https://t.co/R5ZdTul0xY pic.twitter.com/4j9LnIouT1– Aldershot Town FC (@OfficialShots) January 26, 2018

“Everything about the club has been brilliant for me. The players made me fit in from minute one, the staff, the fans, and obviously I love playing at the EBB Stadium.”

The Dubliner joined the Blues from hometown club Shelbourne in August 2014 following a trial and went on to make one start and one sub appearance in the Championship as well as two starts and one game from the bench in the League Cup.

Also like to thank everyone involved at Ipswich. Made me feel welcome from minute one when moved over as 17 year old and had great 3 and half years at the club. It’s been a pleasure & All the best for the rest of the season👍🏼🔵 @Official_ITFC

— adam mc donnell (@AdamMcDonnell97) January 26, 2018

Former Irish U18 international McDonnell enjoyed a very successful loan spell with the Vanarama National League Shots before Christmas - making 19 appearances and scoring three goals - before being recalled by Town as cover with several central midfielders injured. He was on the bench on a number of occasions but without making it on to the field.

Photo: TWTD

positivity added 12:16 - Jan 26 clearly he's some way down the pecking order of young players. he's seen younger players like dozzell, nydam and downes overtake him and peers like bishop favoured. we can't just keep every young player on the off-chance they'll develop or that we'll regularly have 5 midfielders off injured at the same time; it's bad for club morale and unfair on the player himself, who's had a taste of lower league football and loved it. letting him go is the right thing for us and him (that said hope we've got a sell-on agreement!)

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muccletonjoe added 12:25 - Jan 26 Having seen him play i would not put him at championship standard. The only option was to send him out on loan to improve. The lad certainly has potential. But as pointed out - even if he fullfills that potential he would almost certainly be behind Dozzell , Huws , Downes etc when they are all fit.
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runaround added 12:29 - Jan 26 Sad to see him go as I hoped he had a future here & was a nice guy too but can't blame him for going as he has much more chance of playing at Aldershot than under Mick here who prefers his midfield to have lots of experience. Quite how they are meant to get experience if they are given any game time I'm not sure! Good luck Adam
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ipswichdave added 12:44 - Jan 26 I do hope we got a small fee for him and a good sell on clause in place. But doubt it , cant blame MM for contracts
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PortmanTerrorist added 13:03 - Jan 26 Come on guys. Stop giving Mick credit for picking the kids. He would never have gone there were it not for such extensive injuries. What you should be asking is if the likes of Kenlock, Nydam and Downes could make the step up when called upon in emergency circumstances, how many others, IF GIVEN A CHANCE, would have done at least as well as some of the journeymen and/or distinctly average players, he has insisted on playing over past few years. Sorry if am not yet ready to forgive Douglas, Diagouraga, Bradley Orr, Kisnorbo, Nouble etc etc. Players that am sure tried, but surely could not have been that much better than our U23s ???

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lightingblue added 13:20 - Jan 26 Maybe just maybe he wasn't simply good enough. In all honesty their is only so much time you can give a young player. I dare say if Dozzell or Nydam and other weren't injured they would have been involved more but at the expense of overdoing it at their age. There is a fine line with young players. We just can't keep hold of them for the sake of and yes you will always get a couple who will make the grade eventually. And good luck to them if that's the case. With McDonnell,i was speaking to him a couple of years ago at a pre season under 23 match v Coggeshall. He was sub at the time and he seamed to have an attitude problem. Although like many people he may not have liked me (quite enjoy it really). Seriously if he did and that he was and still is a young man me may grow out of it. Anyway I wish him luck

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brendanh added 13:57 - Jan 26 I hate the feeling McDonnell could become another RhodesMarriott. We should not be in the business of jettisoning promising youngsters. They should be going out on loan at most. I'd prefer to have McDonnell in the team than Gleeson, an ageing journeyman loanee. The same mistakes are repeated time and again at Ipswich. Ageing journeyman Luke Varney kept Jack Marriott out of the team. Ageing journeyman Kevin Lisbie kept Jordan Rhodes out of the team. ITFC was built around youth development. Back when we were successful, giving our own promising kids a chance was in our DNA. Marcus Evans needs to go away and read The Men Who Made the Town. Or just go away.

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Swn98 added 14:42 - Jan 26 seems to me hes not going any where.
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Cheltenham_Blue added 14:53 - Jan 26 "runningout added 11:23 - Jan 26 half of recent transfers haven't been brill" Waghorn, Celina, Gleeson, Garner
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Pilgrimblue added 15:03 - Jan 26 I've seen McDonnell a number of times and rate him highly. What was the point of bringing him back and then not using !! He should have played. I agree with Rensham et al it's a mystery that so few of our youth get a chance under Muck. He would much prefer an injured Skuse!! OIt's just the same with Moore, bring him back after very successful time then don't even play him . Crazy!!

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maninashed added 15:08 - Jan 26 McDonnell probably can't defend. Don't worry TimmyH unfortunately Big Mac will be here next season. From ME's point of view he makes a profit on transfers and doesn't waste money as the previous managers did. From Big Mac's point of view it is easy to get here from Kent.
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Pilgrimblue added 16:11 - Jan 26 This is the trouble with Muck, he brings over "Irish Gems" and then never uses them! Name me one who has? Pathetic. Apart from Gleeson the others that played yesterday look very high speculative signings. But guess they're very cheap and will probably all disappear at end of season. It isn't that MM is great at finding gems as all have been put forward by agents to have a look at. Both Moore and Rowe were mates recommendations . Looking at other Clubs they're doing the same but with proper scouts. I get it that Evans hasn't released funds but having got potential players like Moore McDonnell and Rowe why not use them instead of replacing them with lightweights!! The sooner he goes the better, he just doesn't care.

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blue75 added 22:04 - Jan 26 Good luck to the lad. Every player needs a break let's hope this is his.
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