Blues midfielder Flynn Downes is set to join Luton Town on loan until the end of the season.

Downes, 19, broke into the first team at the start of the campaign but last featured for Mick McCarthy’s side in November with injuries having hampered him in recent months.

We understand the deal is not yet confirmed but is expected to go through before tonight’s 11pm deadline.

The Brentwood-born academy product is very much viewed as one for the future and the move would be one purely so he can gain experience of senior football.

In the summer, having impressed in pre-season, the England U19 international signed a contract which runs to the end of June 2020 with the club having an option for a further season only a matter of weeks after putting pen to paper on his first professional deal.

We understand Hatters boss Nathan Jones recently watched Town’s U23s in action as he looked around for potential January additions to his squad.

Luton, who the Blues beat 2-0 in the Carabao Cup in August, a game in which Downes made his first senior start, are currently top of League Two by eight points.

Photo: TWTD

Taricco_Fan added 15:10 - Jan 31 Don't understand this one, much like the Josh Emmanuel loan.
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BlueySwede added 15:28 - Jan 31 Was really impressed with him at the start of the season. But maybe the Championship is a bit too tough for a 19-year old? Hope to see him more next season.
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blueboy1981 added 15:35 - Jan 31 ....... another one bites the McCarthy dust - too young to be given a chance at Portman Road obviously. Taking a risk on young players with so much of the season to lose just cannot be done. Not sure what I've taken - but I don't want anymore of it ... !! LoL.
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blueboy1981 added 15:39 - Jan 31 ....... another NONSENSE from McCarthy.
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beornioblue added 15:40 - Jan 31 I'm sorry but that's ridiculous we need midfielders..so we loan out two of our own?? Please let MM just wander off into Northern mist because the he has clearly lost the plot and the decision making at the club seems to be being made by one of the seagulls that frequents the Saturday games.
3

BobbyBell added 15:45 - Jan 31 WHY? WHY? WHY? He is good enough so play him here. I can see him and Josh being sold in the summer. Both players have proved themselves good enough for the Championship. More young talent of ours benefiting other clubs whilst we scrape around for free transfers and loanees from other clubs. Why have an youth policy if we don't keep and blood them here. The turn around of players here is ridiculous and yet when we produce our own promising youngsters we can't wait to send them somewhere else.

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blueherts added 16:39 - Jan 31 Great ! up the road from me - will keep an eye on him ! He is one of our best young prospects in a long while . Luton play much better football than us so at least he will 'develop' his game with a football minded manager Will be great for him and next season , with a new manager , we will see the benefit
2

Pilgrimblue added 16:54 - Jan 31 Lots of good posts esp Lightningboy. Its ridiculous sending out a first team player in Downes, he should be ahead of Bru Hyam and Gleeson so this is for me a truly bad decision. I just don't know what on earth is MM thinking! He seems to be determined to ruin the last 17 games by sending out players that should be given 1st team experience ready for next season and signing players that wont be here. He's lost it!

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Pilgrimblue added 16:56 - Jan 31 At least Hatters boss knows what he's doing!
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blueboy1981 added 17:05 - Jan 31 GET EVANS, MILNE and McCARTHY OUT OF THIS CLUB - WHILST WE STILL HAVE ONE.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 17:08 - Jan 31 I think of Downes as first team. The moment we are safe I'd play him week in week out. This is surely a type o and itd Hyam going?
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happybeingblue added 17:19 - Jan 31 Flynn has been one of the bright moments of this season,strange one for sure,trouble is most players we loan out do not come back,except Hyam they nearly always get sold on,still at least there is some activity at Portman rd on deadline day which is a miracle in itself,like others have said i would have thought luke hyam would have been a cert to go out on loan as he has hardly played

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jas0999 added 17:24 - Jan 31 Season essentially over. Haven't done enough in terms of transfer activity to challenge the top eight or so teams. So that begs the question - why not play him here?
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8mmCopper added 17:37 - Jan 31 Can't figure this one out at all. Definitely promising until the injury. Problem is, he's more likely to sustain another injury in League Two than gain experience. Arguably more mistimed, crunching tackles when the opposition can't get near him with a legal tackle. Really was excited about seeing Downes come back into the team, but, nope. Crazy.
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cat added 17:54 - Jan 31 Unbelievable, suppose with Connolly and Skuse in the middle he ain't going to play, but this clearly shows McCarthy ain't brave enough to play the youths. If it weren't for injuries I doubt we'd have seen any of them this season. Bitterly disappointed but hey ho, life as an ITFC fan these days.
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smithy0981 added 17:56 - Jan 31 It's great to get these youngsters out and toughen them up but are we not short in midfield?
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