Assistant manager Stuart Taylor says new loan signings Luke Thomas and Josh Harrop will add creativity to the Town side.

Thomas, 21, joined from Barnsley on Tuesday with 25-year-old Harrop moving from Preston the following day. Both will be with the Blues until the end of the season.

Taylor says winger Thomas is someone boss Paul Lambert had been looking to add since before the transfer window opened.

"The manager has been targeting him since before Christmas," he told the club site. "We’re glad to get it across the line.

"He’s an exciting young player that will cause opposition defenders problems. He’s attack-minded, he’s creative and he’s got plenty of pace.

“He’s very direct in his play so we’re looking forward to him bringing those qualities to the club and hopefully he’ll chip in with a few goals as well.

"He’s also got that tenacious side. He has a huge amount of enthusiasm, a hunger and a desire to go and win games. Hopefully he’ll be creating chances for others and scoring some goals.”

Harrop, who came through the youth system at Manchester United, prefers to play as a number 10 but can also operate in wide areas.

"Josh, again, is a very creative, very direct midfield and wide player,” Taylor added. “He can play a couple of positions. He can play as a 10, a central midfielder or as a wide player.

"He comes from a good background and with good pedigree. He’s a very good professional. He’s got loads of qualities.

"It’s given us that positivity and impetus going forward in the final third. Hopefully they’ll find their feet straight away with creating chances and scoring goals, and playing how we know they’re capable of playing.

“We know they’re going to bring qualities to us and we look forward to seeing them play.”

Photos: Matchday Images/ITFC

dirtydingusmagee added 14:35 - Jan 21 should do, there is none at present.
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Suffolkboy added 15:03 - Jan 21 Has T put his finger on the problems ? Has he identified qualities that were missing , OR haven't been able to draw out or instil into our squad ?– IF the latter then ‘why not ?' And what gives ? Anyway let's wish them the very best and all give them the best welcome to our smashing Club . COYB
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terryf added 15:05 - Jan 21 The two new recruits will hopefully add some pace and creativity, but my main concern is the defence who sometimes look all over the place, particularly against Teams that show invention themselves. Portsmouth comes to mind. We need to get Kane Vincent Young up to speed asap. Our Achilles Heel are the centre-backs, so maybe Chambers would be better suited to one of those positions, although he's not the long term solution I'm afraid. No combination really inspires me with confidence, although hopefully Woolfenden will come good soone rather than later! Hopefully

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Chrisd added 15:14 - Jan 21 The two new signings are very decent and will improve us. However, the main issues are the manner in which we play and how we are set up. When you look at all the analytical stats, we certainly aren't setting the world alight, if anything it reflects a bang average L1 side. Hopefully, Harrop and Thomas will inject the squad with a fresh enthusiasm and impetus, but unless PL and ST change their approach and acknowledge that certain things aren't working instead of blind faith persisting then we'll continue to flatter to deceive this season.

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thecat added 15:56 - Jan 21 terryf you could say our Achilles heel is Kane's Achilles
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norfolkbluey added 16:09 - Jan 21 Sometimes new faces can inspire teams with confidence that has drained away. That will only happen if they are given a length of leash to be bring fresh ideas sadly missing at the club. We hold our breath because we are going to need it starting on Saturday against Peterborough who score goals and then Sunderland. Keep the faith.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 16:16 - Jan 21 Well, we could certainly do with a bit of creativity. Lambert is going to have some selection problems fitting everyone in now. I hope we get Thomas on one wing and Edwards on the other, plus Norwood / his sub if he's injured, and I suppose Harrop just behind in the no. 10 spot (as Lambo isn't going to go with two up front). Assuming the back four is pretty fixed (choice of Toto/Woolf), that just leaves two places to fill by my reckoning. Who will they be? And what will the system be, exactly?

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Marinersnose added 16:17 - Jan 21 This has to be a big positive for the club. Both are decent players and will possibly give us the missing ingredient.I can't help second guessing PL starting line up for Saturday. I strongly believe he will still pick Judge in the team at the expense of Dozzell maybe. I really hope I'm wrong. Judge has been poor except against Swindon when he did well.
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Monkey_Blue added 16:23 - Jan 21 My concern is that attacking players of their type isn't something we are short of. Bishop, Judge, Bennetts, Dobra, Lankester, Jackson, Nolan, Edwards, Sears.... that's a list of players who can play wide, or play wide or as a number 10. You could add El Mizouni as well. I also don't see Huws as a defensive midfielder. It's a striker we are missing. Norwood can't stay fit and Drinan & Hawkins don't scream prolific. I'd have preferred we picked up a exiting goalsmith from a premiership club. I'm not in the Lambert out Mob as bigger clubs or similar sized clubs as us haven't strolled out of league one, but I do think we need to be a bit more aggressive and direct at times. A bit more Mick than Lambert to be honest. Maybe we should hire Conner as the strikers coach, he was always held in high regard by our front men.

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unknown100 added 16:30 - Jan 21 For everyone saying we have judge, lankester, dobra, el mazouni... this is not a time to experiment with youngsters and they have had a good chance with the injuries and not been good enough! We have bought in 2 players of good ages, good experience, the qualities we've lacked and are fit and ready! If you want a team of kids, go and watch the under 23s, personally think by what I've read, 2 good signings I'm not a fan of lambert but he's actually being proactive and people just want to complain

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chepstowblue added 16:32 - Jan 21 Always nice to get some new faces in. My one concern is that when the team is announced at 2pm on saturday Thomas will be in goal and Harrop in the centre of defence !
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MonkeyAlan added 16:47 - Jan 21 No Shambert again? Is Taylor his pupppet now? Evans has one so Lambo wanted one to.
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StavangerBlue added 17:10 - Jan 21 Where is the striker we need? A winger and a midfielder are all very nice but unless they are Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes it will be the same story. 70% possession but 3 shots at goal, 0 on target.
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timkatieadamitfc added 17:50 - Jan 21 Unknown100 - “ not a time to experiment with youngsters” How old is Thomas? About Same age as Dobra,lankester and mizouini “Have had a good chance and not been good enough” who have you been watching? Lankester even in the back end if championship season looked good, when played this season has looked good also, mizouni hasn't played and you can count the games dobra has started on one hand- hardly fair to say they aren't good enough. I for one just don't want to complain but reading comments on various threads here it feels like we've signed two really good players. Not been negative but in reality we have signed 2 players( I wonder how many Itfc fans had even heard of) from two average championship teams( none of whom could play regularly for) Think we would have been better served signing a couple of full backs as arguably the better players at this club are midfielders/attackers and our defence is WOEFUL Hope I'm wrong and you are right though

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bbg added 18:39 - Jan 21 The absence of Bishop when injured highlighted a lack of creativity and spark in the final third, so I welcome the new additions. Judge at this stage is probably more suited to a midfield position. I expect there will be departures. Dobra could do with a loan to a League 2 side along with a couple of others, including Lankester and Gibbs. Jackson has attracted attention in the past. I would see him as a striker not very suited to a wide position, his crossing is ok but combination play and dribbling are not his strengths. Hopefully, he wont be sold in this window, because with his profile as a pacy striker, he would likely benefit most from playing with a number 10. With an injury free run, he is one that could come good as hopefully will Norwood. Hopefully, we hold onto Dozzell and Downes. They are capable of playing at a higher level in future, but not ready yet. Woolfenden has gone backwards this season. For me, N'siala and McGuinness are the best combination, with Vincent-Young to challenge Chambers for the RB position.

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Bergholtblue added 18:45 - Jan 21 Has anyone seen the reports that Liverpool were interested in Dozzell? Are these replacements perhaps>
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BettyBlue added 19:00 - Jan 21 Even more less than average players for the squad....
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Cloddyseedbed added 19:49 - Jan 21 I like the sound of these 2 players but am I confident Lambert can fit them into the team and get the best from the team? No. He's been here a long while now and team selection, tactics, motivation and getting the best out of players at his disposal has never been good. I'd love it if these 2 were put in their preferred positions and lifted the team and we ripped up the league but I'm not at all confident with the manager and his coaching team at all. Desperate for my thoughts to be proved wrong. COYB's

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tetchris added 19:53 - Jan 21 We need a big target man. No point having wingers putting crosses in if there is no one to head them in. Don't think we have one attacking player over 5ft 10” 🤔
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Cloddyseedbed added 19:56 - Jan 21 tetchris. Hawkins?
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Nobbysnuts added 19:59 - Jan 21 It wouldn't make any difference if we signed messi and Ronaldo...if shambert keeps sticking to his sh#te clueless tactics we are going to achieve nothing...
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Northstandveteran added 20:24 - Jan 21 BettyBlue. Must you live so relentlessly in the real world? Liverpool interested in Dozzell? Has their bus driver been told to isolate?
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ringwoodblue added 20:38 - Jan 21 Bergholtblue - if you believe Liverpool are seriously interested in Dozzell than you will believe anything!
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BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 20:50 - Jan 21 It's amazing how little creativity our squad has shown so far. We create so few chances every game. I'm hoping these two players make a huge difference on that front. Defensively we still have some issues but with a few players back that could change. Let's hope we don't get any defensive injuries right now....
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Ryorry added 02:08 - Jan 22 Knowing our management, "going forward" will probably mean over the next 4 years rather than, y'know actually going up the pitch towards that thing - oh, what's it called, it's been so long that I've forgotten - oh yes, got it now - towards the "goalmouth" - so as to get a, err, *shot* 😱 in, and (cripes, this is so stressful on the memory) even score one of those much vaunted "goal" things we keep hearing about that other teams get :(

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