Blues midfielder Rekeem Harper says he has moved on loan to Crewe Alexandra for the remainder of the season as he wants to be playing games at this stage of his career.

The 21-year-old joined the Railwaymen on deadline day and looks set to make his debut in the home game against Plymouth on Saturday.

Harper, who joined the Blues from West Brom in the summer, told crewealexnet: “I spoke to the gaffer at Ipswich and said I wanted to go out loan and Crewe were one of the first clubs to show a real interest.

“I spoke to the manager and he told me about the club and where I fitted into the system. I am just grateful for the opportunity.

“I remember watching Crewe at Ipswich earlier in the season and some of the football they played that day was incredible for this level. I was on the bench that day and I remember the football they played and as a player you want to play that way if you can.

“I am at the stage of my career where I want to be playing games and have a purpose for the team.

“I want to play well as an individual because in turn I know that will help the team. I would say I am a box-to-box midfielder and my role on the pitch is to score goals, create chances and stop goals.

“The manager has made my goals and objectives very clear to me and I am excited by the challenge. We have to be competitive to get the points we will need and if that means sometimes winning ugly, then so be it.

“Everyone wants to win and play well, but if we win and don’t play particularly well then we have to take it with the position we are in.

“We all want the perfect performance to go with the result but we want to win and if we do that playing the other side of the game well then we cannot complain too much.

“In this league, one win can provide that spark and that is what we need. We need to get that win and then build from there. If you can get a good win then it can really spark a run and that is what we need to do.

Harper says he believes the system the Alex play will suit him: “I’m sure the manager and the coaches will get the best out of me whilst I am here.

“Playing in a three in midfield has got the best out of me in the past and the gaffer has said that he wants players to play without fear and influence games and that is what I will aim to do.”

Speaking yesterday, Town manager Kieran McKenna said he felt Harper's move to Crewe suits all parties.

Photo: Action Images

TimmyH added 14:24 - Feb 4 Is it me or do professional players at ANY level who aren't playing regularly more or less say the same thing? if they're saying this then they aren't good enough at the club they have come from or just about to go to. What I've seen of Harper he probably started a bit better than Bakinson but then faded.
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Ipswichbusiness added 15:07 - Feb 4 TimmyH; it's the media training. Basically, they are told to spout the usual cliches because if they say anything interesting then the media blows it up and makes it controversial (then the same media complains that all footballers are boring!). That said, I can understand Harper wanting to go out on loan. He wants to play football which we should applaud. He seems to have been passed over in favour of Bakinson, although, from what I have seen of him, he is no upgrade on Harper.

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