By Aston
December 14 2004

Ipswich Town manager Joe Royle is hoping to have a loan signing in the Town squad before the busy Christmas period.

Loan Before Christmas?

Ipswich Town manager Joe Royle is hoping to have a loan signing in the Town squad before the busy Christmas period.

Darren Currie joined Town last week and gave Royle another option in midfield so a defender or a very defensive midfielder is now the likely target, especially as the second most deadly strike force in the league visit Portman road next Tuesday, along with 9 other players from Wigan.

Royle has confirmed that there is money to bring some one in and that he would like to bring some one in, saying: “There is room in the budget for one loan signing and in an ideal world I'd like to sort something out before the Christmas programme gets under way.

“I was delighted to get Darren in. His versatility is very appealing and, while I see him primarily as a wide midfielder, there is no doubt that he gives us plenty of options going forward.”

Royle knows the player he wants but admits he will have to wait for the right time to make his move for him, adding: “I was speaking to people over the weekend and I know exactly where I would go to find the player I want. But I need to be patient.

“It is all about availability. If you look on Ceefax you will see fewer and fewer loans happening, because clubs are running on tighter squads.

“We've benefited on the other side. There's no doubt that operating with a smaller squad has helped in terms of togetherness.

“I don't know how Chelsea foster a team spirit, but they have so many quality players that there is tremendous competition for places. That's a different way of doing it.

“Ideally, I would like to bring in one player, somebody who could come in and improve us. It won't happen today or tomorrow, but I am trying to chivvy things along.”

Source: Evening Star

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