A BEAMING Jim Magilton will today unveil David Wright as the man he sees filling the right-back slot - and he is convinced the 26-year-old is already a player in the Ipswich Town mould.

By Derek Davis

A BEAMING Jim Magilton will today unveil David Wright as the man he sees filling the right-back slot - and he is convinced the 26-year-old is already a player in the Ipswich Town mould.

Magilton was last night delighted that the player had agreed terms and if he passes a medical Wright will go straight into the side to face Sunderland on Saturday.

But Magilton revealed there will be no former Black Cats facing their old club at the weekend after refuting reports that Town had made a bid for either Jon Stead or Chris Brown.

He said: “We still have other irons in the fire regarding signings but we are not the club that has made an offer for them.”

While Magilton has been looking at other signings, he has been working hard on landing Wright and was delighted that Wigan boss Paul Jewell allowed him to leave the JJB Stadium.

Magilton said: “Paul Jewell and Wigan have been fantastic with us and in letting David come to us. A number of other cubs were interested but we were the first to make an offer and they allowed him to come to us first.”

Wright and his wife were yesterday given a tour of Portman Road and the Playford Road training ground before shaking hands with Magilton on a three-and-a-half year deal.

The 26-year-old made his Crewe debut as a 17-year-old after first joining the Gresty Road set-up eight years earlier.

An out-and-out defender, Wright is not known for his goals with just three in 240 outings for the Alex and failing to find the net during his time at Wigan.

But he is renowned for being a dependable full-back who likes to get forward in support.

Wright spent a short spell at Norwich last season on loan, playing five games but with Pascal Chimbonda going to Spurs in the summer he has figured more for the Latics this season, making 13 appearances.

Magilton said: “David will be a good influence in the dressing room and on the pitch. He is someone I have liked as a player for a long time and after meeting him here at the club he has lived up to my every expectation as a person too.

“He has been brought up the right way at Crewe and has had Premiership experience with Wigan.

“David wants to get back in the Premiership with us and is very ambitious, which is exactly the sort of player I want at this club.

“This is a great coup for this club and I'm ecstatic about getting him, subject to the medical, of course.”

Although Wright would fill the right-back slot, he can also cover as a centre-back.

His arrival means there is less urgency to fill that position, although Fabian Wilnis's cousin Marciano Bruma has still been invited back when he has recovered from a ligament injury to play in a trial game in order to try to impress.

Town are still in the box seat to sign George O'Callaghan from Cork City although negotiations have stalled for the moment.