IPSWICH are poised to sign Middlesbrough defender Matthew Bates on loan until January.The deal for the 19-year-old England youth international will be completed on Monday and Bates will go straight into the squad for the derby clash with Norwich City at Portman Road tomorrow week.

By Mel Henderson

IPSWICH are poised to sign Middlesbrough defender Matthew Bates on loan until January.

The deal for the 19-year-old England youth international will be completed on Monday and Bates will go straight into the squad for the derby clash with Norwich City at Portman Road tomorrow week.

Bates has made 32 first team appearances, including 18 in the Premiership, and made five appearances in Boro's run to the UEFA Cup Final under Steve McClaren last season.

A product of the successful Riverside Academy, he was also on loan at Darlington, where he played four games in the 2004-05 season, and he is equally at home as a right-back or central defender.