Hatters sign Ipswich midfielder Downes on loan

Luton Town have completed their second signing of transfer deadline day by bringing young Ipswich Town midfielder Flynn Downes to the club on loan until the end of the season.
New Luton signing Flynn DownesNew Luton signing Flynn Downes
New Luton signing Flynn Downes

The 19-year-old has played 12 times for the Tractor Boys this campaign, including at Kenilworth Road in the Carabao Cup back in August.

Flynn also made his England U19 debut against Germany in September and won three caps in the Young Lions’ European Championship qualifying campaign.

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On his new arrival, Luton boss Nathan Jones said: “Flynn is a young Championship player who Ipswich have big hopes for.

“We don’t take many loans, but we knew about him and once we were made aware he’d become available, we felt it was worth the chance to take him.

“He’s a real energetic, combative midfield player. We know what type of character and what type of worker he is, because he’s one that Mick McCarthy likes – and if Mick McCarthy likes him we know we are getting a real top midfield player.

“We are delighted that Mick was very complimentary about our environment and how we play. He was instrumental in allowing Flynn to come out and get more experience with us.”

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Downes himself was thrilled to get the chance to play regularly in Town’s League Two run-in, saying: “I can’t wait to get started.

“It’s happened totally out of the blue. I was called into the gaffer’s office and he literally just said ‘Do you want to go out on loan to Luton?’ I just said ‘Yes, get me there, I just want to be playing football!’

“That is the main reason I’ve come, because I want to play football. Every youngster wants to be improving, and that’s my aim – to come here, improve and help the team.”

Downes’ arrival will give Jones more options now in midfield, especially after signing Lloyd Jones from Liverpool too as the Hatters chief added: “For us to bring someone in in that area, he has to be a very good footballer and has to be different to what we’ve got.

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“We are looking to strengthen in that area just in case we had to move Glen (Rea), but now it gives us options at both centre-half and in midfield.

“With what we’ve done today we’ve strengthened the squad for the run-in, getting players that were as good, if not better than what we already had in the building.

“Both Flynn and Lloyd come into that category and we think that we’ve got two fantastic signings; two young players who are hungry to do well, and that fits into what we need.”