DARREN Ambrose is an Ipswich Town player again today after completing his loan move to Ipswich Town from Charlton.

Derek Davis

DARREN Ambrose is an Ipswich Town player again today after completing his loan move to Ipswich Town from Charlton.

The 24-year-old, who left Portman Road for Newcastle United in March 2003, returns to his boyhood club on an initial two-month loan spell, with a view to a permanent move in January.

Charlton are keen to cash in now on a player who will be out of contract next summer and are understood to be asking for a fee of around £250,000.

Town are not committed to taking Ambrose full-time in the new year, although they will have first refusal.

Blues boss Jim Magilton has been looking to secure his former team-mate for the best part of a year but the Addicks would not consider letting him leave until now.

Magilton said: “I have played with Darren and know what qualities he has and we are delighted to have added him to our squad.”

Ambrose needed surgery on a hip problem during the summer and missed the early part of the season as he recovered.

After impressing against the Blues in Charlton's 2-1 win at the beginning of October, the last time Town lost, Ambrose said he was flattered by Magilton's interest and complimentary comments and would welcome a return to Ipswich.

Essex-born Ambrose graduated through the Blues academy system after originally joining Town's school of excellence as an 11-year-old.

He made his debut as a substitute in a Premier League clash against Arsenal at Highbury in April 2002 and netted his first goal on his full debut the following season against Walsall in the Championship.

Relegation for Town meant financial hardship and Ambrose was sold for a cut-price £1m to Sir Bobby Robson's Newcastle United who played him 25 times in his first season on Tyneside.

But the arrival of Graeme Souness saw him being used sparingly and he joined the Addicks for around £1.5m in July 2005.

Capped at all age groups up to England Under-21, Ambrose netted twice at that level in 10 appearances.

The 6ft two-footed player can be used on either flank and Town boss Magilton has praised his versatility.

Ambrose is likely to go straight into the Town squad that play bottom-of-the-Championship side Doncaster on Saturday.

Magilton will decide this week whether to stick with the same side that has recorded wins over Plymouth, QPR and Blackpool, or use Ambrose on the left in place of Alan Quinn. He could even take the beleaguered David Norris out of the firing line and use the winger wide right.

After successive clean sheets it is unlikely Magilton will change the defence, meaning Alex Bruce staying on the bench.

Bruce, who has been linked with a move to Italy and Championship clubs in the north, has been included in the Republic of Ireland's trimmed down 22-man squad for their international against Hungary, at Croke Park, on November 19.