BLUES boss Jim Magilton has turned to 18-year-old defensive midfielder Simon Walton to solve his defensive crisis.The Charlton youngster will today join Ipswich Town on loan from the Valley just weeks after becoming Iain Dowie's first signing as the Addicks boss.

By Derek Davis

BLUES boss Jim Magilton has turned to 18-year-old defensive midfielder Simon Walton to solve his defensive crisis.

The Charlton youngster will today join Ipswich Town on loan from the Valley just weeks after becoming Iain Dowie's first signing as the Addicks boss.

Walton was bought for £500,000 from Leeds United and played a couple of pre-season games for Charlton.

The holding midfielder, who also plays centre-half, is expected to go straight into the Town side that goes in search of their first points of the season, when they entertain Hull City tomorrow.

Walton made his debut for Leeds United as a 16-year-old and went on to make 38 appearances, and scoring three goals, for Kevin Blackwell's side but found his way blocked as more established players were brought in.

The combative youngster picked up eight yellow cards and a sending-off in his time at Leeds. He was booked in the 1-0 defeat by Ipswich at Portman Road in November 2004 and was a sub in the 1-1 draw at Elland Road in the last game of that season.

Magilton snapped up the youngster after Bulgarian international defender Ivaylo Petkov rejected an offer by Ipswich Town and decided to accept a new deal in Turkey.

Petkov impressed while on a trial with Town earlier in the week and Magilton wanted the 30-year-old to play in a competitive reserve match before actually offering him a contract.

Walton will be joined by fellow debutant West Ham midfielder Mark Noble, while striker Sam Parkin could be on his way out.

Parkin was given permission to speak to Luton and Preston after Ipswich accepted initial offers of around £300,000, rising to more than £500,000, but a third club, understood to be Coventry City, has now entered the equation and that could hold up any move.

Parkin last night told the EADT: “I have spoken to Luton and Preston but nothing has been decided as yet and I will be back in Ipswich tomorrow morning.”

It is unlikely Parkin would feature at Portman Road anyway due to his discomfort playing in front of the home crowd - all his best performances, and five goals, have come away from home.

While the Blues may be without at least one striker for tomorrow's game - two if Billy Clarke does not recover from a dead leg - Hull City could have a new hitman.

Carl Asaba played for Hull City Reserves on Wednesday night against Lincoln as part of his trial with the Tigers.

With City ready to sell Ben Burgess to Blackpool for around £100,000, Hull boss Phil Parkinson is looking to add to his strike-force, even though Jon Parkin leads the Championship score charts with three goals in three games.