Town have signed Daryl Murphy on loan from Sunderland until the end of the season.

The Republic of Ireland international was a target of Blues in the summer having worked under Roy Keane at the Stadium of Light, helping the Black Cats to promotion to the Premier League in the 2006/07 season.

Waterford born, he spent a few weeks on trial at Portman Road in 2005 before joining Sunderland and has gone on to make 110 League appearances for them in his five years at the club.

The 26-year-old, who had a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday in his first season at Sunderland, has played three times in the Premier League this term, with all three games coming over the last six weeks.

Daryl has been capped nine times by the Republic at senior level, as well as earning U21 honours.

Subscribers to Town's SMS service heard confirmation of Daryl's arrival first. Click on the mobile icon on the homepage for full details of how to be first with the official news from Portman Road.