Derby County striker Conor Sammon has joined the Blues on a season-long loan from Derby County. Town have been linked with the 27-year-old Republic of Ireland international on a number of occasions since Mick McCarthy took over at Portman Road.

Sammon trained with the Blues squad this morning and will be in the squad at Reading tomorrow if the paperwork goes through before tomorrow's noon deadline.

Sammon told the club site that the chance to work with Mick McCarthy was one he couldn't turn down: "Once I became aware that the gaffer was interested in bringing me to Ipswich, it was an opportunity that really excited me.

“I have always admired the manager from the time he was in charge of the Ireland national team. He is very straight, very honest.

"He came across that way in the interviews I used to see him do from years ago and from the conversations I’ve had with him, he’s exactly the same now.

“I’m looking forward to working under him. I think I’m the type of player that will suit what the gaffer wants from his players and how the team is here.

“Last season was a frustrating one for me on a personal level at Derby, even though the team had a successful season and were close to getting promoted.

“It was difficult training through the week knowing that you weren’t going to be playing on the Saturday. Coming to Ipswich gives me a new opportunity to really fight for a place in the team. Hopefully it can be a very successful loan for me and the club.”

Explaining the move, Derby boss Steve McClaren told the Rams' official site: “Conor’s first-team chances were limited last season, especially with Chris Martin in superb form.

“That was unfortunately going to be the case for him this season, especially following the arrival of Leon Best from Blackburn Rovers, so moving on loan to Ipswich presents him with a strong possibility of playing first-team football.”

The Dubliner, who has been handed the Town number 32 shirt, played youth football with local side Cherry Orchard, then moved on to UCD, Derry City, Kilmarnock and then Wigan before joining Derby for £1.2 million in the summer of 2012.

Since then Sammon, who has won nine full Ireland caps, has made 49 starts and 40 sub appearances for the Rams, scoring 13 goals.

Sammon, who earlier in the summer was linked with a reunion with former Derby boss Nigel Clough at Sheffield United, is contracted to the Rams for another two years.

Photos: Action Images/ITFC

Photo: Action Images

MattinLondon added 15:06 - Aug 15 First impressions were 'why'. But I remember him being quite a good player, holding the ball up and able to thread balls and bring others into the game. I do think that to get the best out of him we need two out and wingers or a runner from midfield. Not sure if Tabb or Skuse will benefit his style. In terms of not being prolific - David Johnson, Kuki, Walters, Alan Lee weren't exactly banging them in for their former clubs but they all did well.

2

MrDiddle added 15:07 - Aug 15 Quite a few comments about how underwhelmed people are about this signing. Pretty sure these are the same people who slated MM for signing McGoldrick not so long ago, slated ME for replacing Paul Jewell with MM. How could replacing Taylor with Sammon be a bad bit of business? MM has made it clear he doesnt want Taylor here because he's not right for the team (which he isnt), and true to his word has shipped the guy out and replaced him with someone who wants to be here, and wants to play football. What more could you ask for!

1

cornishblu added 15:08 - Aug 15 ...well I got the Connor bit right...but not the wickham...work your heart out....and of you can't shoot give it to didzy....simples!!
3

ericclacton added 15:15 - Aug 15 I'm all for it, you ask my neighbour!
0

JackDeVos added 15:21 - Aug 15 Seems a little fishy this one, ey.. lads.. fishy.. sammon..
2

dude added 15:26 - Aug 15 He's going to be immense for us this season. Doubters doubt and haters hate. You'll be in the same place at the end of the season.
0

Kirbmeister added 15:31 - Aug 15 Welcome Connor. Hope you find time to read these comments on the day you signed and they help you settle in...
0

cats_whiskers added 15:35 - Aug 15 When we got Paul Green on loan last season, the fans reaction to that was very similar... But he actually turned out to be alright and chipped in with decent displays and also GOALS McCarthy has signed him for the season whereas Taylor has only gone till January, maybe he's not a selfish player and that is why his goal scoring ratio is lower, and sees a pass to someone who's in a better position. When we had Bent and Kuqi together they were both too selfish and wouldn't pass it, and where did that eventually get us!!

0

ITFC_Cairo added 15:36 - Aug 15 Having the option of Sammon, Bajner and Marriot to turn to late on in games shows good strength in depth. I think this will mean Nouble slips further down the pecking order, not that it really bothers me. I think Sammon could be a useful player. Any fin is possible if you put your mind to it. P.S. If anyone has a better fish pun than me, feel free to let minnow.
2

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 15:41 - Aug 15 With all due respect to Connor, we are not in the market for £m strikers. We get what we can and make the best of it. Sammon may well fit this category. He will be asked to do a job, and I reckon he'll give it a good go; it remains to be seen how successful that will be, but let's give him a chance. By the way, I haven't followed Leon Best's career, so I don't know what he's done since to warrant limiting Sammon's opportunities at Derby, but when he (Best) was at Coventry (admittedly a long time back) I thought he was pretty crap. Come on Connor, show the doubters (and semi-doubters) that we're wrong. You're putting on the blue shirt and for that reason I'm behind you all the way.

4

itfc1981 added 15:53 - Aug 15 For the positive comments: "a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through"
0

bluelodgeblue added 16:14 - Aug 15 Still looking out for the creative midfielder?????????????
1

GerkensBeard added 16:21 - Aug 15 He is a donkey, not great in the air, not very quick, not prolific, but then again he does work hard. Hopefully he transforms at ITFC and becomes a reliable 3rd striker this season, but that is all he should be.
1

TrabzonBlue added 16:23 - Aug 15 Good luck Sammon and all that but jeez, would it kill MM to sign someone with a little more technical ability?
5

northernblues added 16:29 - Aug 15 my brother in law is a rams fan and season ticket holder, will consult with SOMEONE is the know!
0

GerkensBeard added 16:29 - Aug 15 I would like to of seen us gone for a billy sharp type player on loan, experienced striker who knows where the net is, I don't think we should of let SEB go, he had a lengthy injury and recovery and this season he could of been useful for us. It's quite a difficult situation because Didsy may be 6ft 1, but he is nothing like a target man at all so you do have to play someone like Murphy with him, but if Didsy gets injured again having 2 big target men up front just doesn't work.

2

GerkensBeard added 16:35 - Aug 15 And it's not that I'm not giving him a chance, but I have seen him play a number of times, the fans at both derby and Wigan both slated him, so it is quite an uninspiring signing, I would love him to prove me wrong.
3

Bluetone added 16:39 - Aug 15 If he is big does the dirty stuff, puts in a shift and tracks back that's all McCarthy ask of him doesn't matter a stuff whether he's got any actual talent or ability. Watch out for a "not my sort of player" statement re Jack Marriott.
4

DurhamTownFan added 16:42 - Aug 15 Disaster of a signing: never actuallly seen this guy even threaten to score! Not to get negative before he's even played, but he just seems to me to be that kind of player who's incredibly lucky to even be playing with his record. how can 10 in 80 be classed as being a 'striker'?!
1

Churchmanschild added 16:54 - Aug 15 Welcome Connor!! I will not judge him until he's played at least 10 games he cannot be any worse than Frank Nouble, if he's a professional footballer then so am I!!
1

jwalker added 16:55 - Aug 15 Not a signing to take your breath away but a good back up for murphy. People complain about the squad being too small and then they moan when we sign someone. If we signed someone amazing on loan there'd even be a few who would moan that they were taking the place of our permanent players. We will definitely be bringing in a centre mid (hopefully creative) on loan. MM has repeatedly talked about prem sides waiting to sort out their squads. I know the season has already started but a little patience cos I think it's just around the corner COYB!

2

mickymacsbarmyarmy added 16:57 - Aug 15 From what I know of sammon he seems a bit of a time bomb, always likely to get sent off..still anythings better than frank the plank,maybe a spell at my local team Braintree would do him the power of good...then again !!??
2

dubblue added 17:13 - Aug 15 Well hopefully this works out both for Conor and Town. I have seen him play for Ireland and he is not particularly skillful. Agree though that he may be a handful for defenders in drawing them out of position.
1

tractorboy12341234 added 17:14 - Aug 15 cant wait to see Sammon and Nouble tearing defences apart haha
0

floridaboy added 17:18 - Aug 15 I really hope he turns out to be just what we wanted. Just to stick up the vast majority of comments on here. If those who have slagged off Salmon actually go to PR then you should be ashamed of yourselves. You support the team and the management and should respect what MM picks as his starting 11. He has seen something in Salmon that ticks his box and I for one hope he has a successful loan spell with the Blues. Hopefully it will push Nouble out of the door. As for young Marriott I think a loan spell with a League club would do him the power of good. Did not do himself any favours the other night although not helped by the useful article Nouble. He obviously has not come here to sit on the bench - he could do that at Derby. Maybe McGoldrick is struggling for fitness. Who knows!! Good luck I say and prove the idiots on here wrong!

-5

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls