Town have confirmed the signing of Hull City striker Will Keane on loan for the rest of the season.

"I know the qualities Will will give us and I'm delighted we have been able to get him here," manager Paul Lambert told the club website.

Keane says the move gives him a chance to play regularly having been on the fringes with the Tigers.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to come here and hopefully play some games and contribute to the team,” he told iFollow Ipswich.

“I spoke to the manager a couple of days ago and it was an easy decision for me.

“Despite the position in the league, I know it’s a great club. I know about the manager. I have played at the stadium. I’ve seen the training ground. The foundations are in place for Ipswich to be a top Championship club at least.

“I want to do everything I can for the cause here and score a few goals and help push the team up the league.

“I have seen it happen recently at Hull. You put a few results together and you can catapult up the league. It’s doable.

“They were down at the bottom not so long ago but got a couple of wins and before you know it, that was four or five wins and the confidence starts to come and you build momentum.

“I have spoken to some of the lads here and they have said the performances have been good but the luck has gone against us. Hopefully that will change as well.”

Keane, who will wear the number 14 shirt, was signed by the midday deadline which permits him to be involved in the FA Cup tie at Accrington Stanley tomorrow.

Stockport-born Keane, who is out of contract at the end of the season, came through the ranks at Manchester United where he made two sub appearances in the Premier League and spent spells out on loan at Wigan, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Preston.

In August 2016, Hull paid the Red Devils a reported £1.02 million for 6ft 2in tall Keane, who has been capped by England at U16, U17, U19, U20 and U21 levels.

A serious knee ligament injury - the second of his career, he previously missed the whole of the 2012/13 campaign - saw him sidelined for more than a year of football with the Tigers and he has made only 11 starts and 15 sub appearances, scoring once, since making his move to East Yorkshire.

Overall, Keane, whose twin brother is England international centre-half Michael, has netted only six senior goals in 45 starts and 33 games from the bench.

This season he has made one Championship start - the 2-0 win at Leeds last Saturday - and seven sub appearances, in addition to two games in the EFL Cup, without finding the net.

Manager Paul Lambert has said he wants two strikers in the transfer window as he looks to turn Town’s season around in the second half of the campaign.

Photo: ITFC

gt81 added 19:07 - Jan 4 Hopefully he can do something with his height and presence, we looked like midgets against Millwall. If he can hold the ball up for Sears and Jackson, who have been banging a few in lately, then he'll have done a good job for the team.
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Felstow1978 added 19:45 - Jan 4 So we're signing donkeys rather than thoroughbreds these days?
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tractorboyjim added 19:57 - Jan 4 Last time I was this underwhelmed by a signing I was proved wrong by a Mr Noel Hunt who have us the away day of the season at Charlton! So, not what I was hoping for BUT if you can help win us ANY points he'll be very welcome!!
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Pecker added 20:07 - Jan 4 Welcome Will. Hope you can score the goals to keep us up.
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happybeingblue added 20:13 - Jan 4 Thought he was a paddy with that surname maybe mick recommended him
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ringwoodblue added 20:33 - Jan 4 I see Madine is being linked to Sheff Utd. That's the sort of proven championship striker we should be getting in, not Keane. Disappointing.
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Cakeman added 20:58 - Jan 4 bedsititftc, I don't care if he is as bald as a coot and uses a walking stick. If he can help us in our hour of need I will be delighted.
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Cakeman added 21:00 - Jan 4 Well said Hugoagogo 👏👏
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BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 03:02 - Jan 5 I'm happy with the signing, but he's not a target man. Research needed by some fans I'm afraid. He plays off the target man generally.
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