REPUBLIC of Ireland international midfield playmaker Alan Mahon yesterday agreed to join Ipswich Town on a three-month loan.And Ipswich Town manager Joe Royle has not ruled out a further addition to his squad before the Blues travel to the Hawthorns to face West Bromwich Albion a week today.

REPUBLIC of Ireland international midfield playmaker Alan Mahon yesterday agreed to join Ipswich Town on a three-month loan.

And Ipswich Town manager Joe Royle has not ruled out a further addition to his squad before the Blues travel to the Hawthorns to face West Bromwich Albion a week today.

Royle confirmed that 25-year-old Mahon (right) will be joining the Blues from Premiership side Blackburn Rovers, as revealed in yesterday's EADT.

He said: "Alan is a very clever ball player. He has great delivery of a ball and can play in a left-side area where we have been a bit short. The loss of left-side specialist players such as Jamie Clapham and Hermann Hreidarsson has left us a bit thin in this area."

The former Tranmere and Sporting Lisbon player cost Rovers £1.5 million and helped them gain promotion to the Premiership, but has been on the fringes of the side this season.

On Wednesday night he had an outstanding game in a 2-1 defeat to Leeds reserves in a match played at Morecambe.

Rovers manager Graeme Souness said: "I can understand Alan Mahon wanting first-team football. He's a smashing lad and this will be a great opportunity for him to re-establish himself.

"Joe Royle is an excellent manager. I'm sure he'll do well in his three months at Ipswich."

The Ipswich boss regularly watched Mahon during his days at Tranmere and Blackburn when he was manager at nearby Everton and also Manchester City.

Mahon, who has two senior caps and 18 at Under-21 level, will link up with Town on Monday.

Royle, who failed in his bid to take former Ipswich favourite Darren Ambrose back on loan from Newcastle, remains hopeful of bringing in another loan signing next week.

n Tickets for Town's visit to the Hawthorns are currently on general sale and are priced at £20 for adults and £11 for concessions/juniors. Contact the Ticket Office on 01473 400555 for purchases.

n Wigan boss Paul Jewell has brought his hunt for a striker to an end by completing the signing of Birmingham striker Geoff Horsfield.

The former Fulham and Halifax player moves to the JJB Stadium for a fee in the region of £1million and has signed a three-year deal.

"Once I knew that Birmingham were willing to let me go it was an easy decision to come here," Horsfield told the club's official website, www.wiganlatics.co.uk. "Leaving Birmingham is hard, but I believe I am joining a club that is going places."