Ipswich v Leeds: JASON Brown has been signed purely as a third choice keeper, Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has confirmed.

The 30-year-old – who was released by Aberdeen in January – arrives on a free transfer following West Ham’s decision to recall loanee Stephen henderson last week. Scott Loach will become the team’s first choice keeper, with Arran Lee-Barrett on the bench.

“He understands he’s coming in as number three and he’s happy to do that as he didn’t have a club,” said McCarthy, when asked about Brown. “He’s very experienced and has trained well with us. He’s fitted in straight away.

“If you’ve only got two keepers for training – and we work on finishing and crossing all the time – then it only takes one of them to get injured to leave you short. By having three you can rotate them in training a bit.

“And if we do have any problems then he is vastly experienced and I’d have no worries about playing him.

“You really need to have three keepers around the place. I know Wolves have taken (Marian) Kello, who was at Hearts.

“We’ve just lost one because West Ham have taken their one (Henderson) back, so we had to make sure we were okay.

“There’s maybe an opportunity for him for next season.”

Meanwhile, the Blues boss confirmed that both Anthony Wordsworth and Frank Nouble are fit to face Leeds on Saturday.

Midfielder Wordsworth – a January signing from Colchester – cracked three vertebrae in his back when making his full debut for the club against Blackpool last month. Striker Nouble – a January addition from Wolves – impressed on his full debut, a goalless draw at Peterborough, but missed the 1-0 home win over Bolton with a hamstring problem.

McCarthy also confirmed that midfielder Guirane N’Daw is available for selection. The Senegalese midfielder missed the last match after he was arrested, and later charged, for ABH following a ‘domestic incident’. He is currently on police bail and will return to court next Tuesday.