IPSWICH new boy Jon Macken checked into Portman Road today, eager and willing to assist the cause.Crystal Palace striker Macken, 28, has signed a three-month loan deal and will probably make his Town debut in the home game against Southampton tomorrow week.

By Mel Henderson

IPSWICH new boy Jon Macken checked into Portman Road today, eager and willing to assist the cause.

Crystal Palace striker Macken, 28, has signed a three-month loan deal and will probably make his Town debut in the home game against Southampton tomorrow week.

The former Manchester United, Preston and Manchester City player was manager Jim Magilton's second deadline day recruit.

Earlier yesterday Magilton signed former Fulham midfielder Sylvain Legwinski on a two-year contract.

Macken said: “I have been aware of Ipsw-ich's interest for a couple of weeks and hoped things would be sorted out in time.

“It gives you a lift when you hear that another club wants you and sees you as a player who can improve them.

“I am just keen to get out on the training ground now and work with the other lads. We have a week or so in which to prepare for the next game, which is a bit of a bonus for me.”

Macken was once valued at £5million when then City boss Kevin Keegan took him to Main Road and he cost Palace £750,000 when he moved to London in the summer of 2005.

He added: “Sometimes things don't work out the way you want them to in football and you can't do much about it.

“It was frustrating last season when I had one or two injuries because when you join a new club you want to do well for them and you can't help it if you are injured. I suppose when you think I started out with United as a youngster my career has been a bit of a roller coaster ride.

“But you can't always have it the way you would want it and you just have to get on with life.”

Macken is married with a ten-year-old son and a six-year-old daughter and may have to split his week between Suffolk and South London.

But he promised: “I am here to do a job. Ipswich want me and I want to be here and I especially want to do well.

I know they have not made a great start to the season but I see the Champio-nship as being

pretty evenly matched and there is plenty of time to make up lost ground.

“No one is running away with it this year and a lot of teams seem to be beating each other, which means you can quickly get up the table with a few good results.

“I am bringing my presence and the way I play my football to Ipswich and I think we can help each other over the next three months.

“After that I don't really know what will happen. But in the short-term I am desperate to play and do well.”

Meanwhile Magilton surveyed his new look squad, minus Hull-bound striker Nicky Forster and teenager Liam Trotter, who has joined Millwall on loan, and said: “I'm really happy with the way it is looking. We set high standards in our last game at QPR and I want us to use that as a springboard to go forward. We have shown we can play a certain brand of football at this level and we need to do it now on a regular basis.

“I feel we have strengthened in all areas of the team since the close season and it is now important that we build on the QPR performance rather than it being a one off.”

Magilton also extended the loan arrangement with Charlton midfielder Simon Walton, meaning the 18-year-old will stay until January.