Loan boost for Blues

CHAMPIONS' League clubs Arsenal and Monaco have confirmed they are to allow Ipswich Town to keep Danny Karbassiyoon and Jimmy Juan on loan, writes Derek Davis.

Karbassiyoon will stay for another two months after the game at Reading, which will allow him to remain at Portman Road until after the Gillingham game in March.

The Blues will then have time, before the Football League's transfer deadline, to decide whether to keep him until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old left-sided player has already made four appearances for the Blues, starting with a cameo role at Millwall, a full debut at Plymouth, his home bow against Bolton and in the win over Coventry City at Portman Road on Saturday.

Monaco last night agreed to allow left-footed midfielder Juan to join Ipswich on loan until the end of the season, after he impressed during a trial stint last week.

The 21-year-old, who has hardly figured in Le Championnat side's starting line-up, is expected to return to Portman Road on Wednesday and sign his new agreement which would make him available to be in the squad travelling to Reading on Saturday.

His first action in a Town shirt, though, is likely to be for the reserves at Coventry City next Tuesday.

Striker Shefki Kuqi is making good progress with an ankle injury he picked up against Coventry on Saturday and Blues boss Joe Royle is optimistic about him playing at the Madejski Stadium.

The Town joint-top scorer - he has 13, along with Darren Bent - also took a knock on his left thigh but has responded well to treatment on Sunday and Monday.

Meanwhile, Drissa Diallo is progressing well as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

He has been working out with fitness coach Simon Thadani for the past few days and is hoping to link up with the first-team squad training at the end of this week and be involved in a reserve match before the end of the month.