Ipswich Town boss Roy Keane has high hopes for new signing Devann Yao (From Gazette)

Ipswich Town boss Roy Keane has high hopes for new signing Devann Yao

7:00am Saturday 6th February 2010

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Roy Keane has praised the attitude and athleticism of new signing Devann Yao.

The American has joined Ipswich Town for the rest of this season, having impressed on trial at Portman Road.

There was a delay in the free agent finalising his move, while the club worked through paperwork relating to compensation due to some of his former clubs.

But Yao has now put pen to paper and Blues manager Keane said: “We’re delighted it’s all sorted out.

“He’s still catching up on his fitness but he’s here to play first-team football.

“That’s the plan for every player at the club and that’s why we took a chance on him.

“We like what we see.

“He plays in a couple of different positions, he’s a strong runner and his fitness levels are fantastic, given that he’s only just come back from injury. He’s a good athlete.

“Just as important, he’s got a very good attitude."

Yao was not the only new signing at the club this week as Town also completed loan swoops for Sunderland strikers David Healy and Daryl Murphy.

The pair could make their debuts in this afternoon’s Championship match against Middlesbrough at Portman Road.

Keane hopes the pair will add something fresh and different to his attack.

“Our top scorers only have six goals and that’s Jon Stead and Jon Walters,” said the Irishman.

“That tells a story in itself.

“At other clubs a lot of their players are well into double figures by now, so that’s held us back.

“We’ve got good competition but we just haven’t had the right combination up front.

“They’re good players individually but none of them have struck it off just yet.”

Keane added that he still hopes to add to his squad when the loan window opens again next week.

“Maybe there are one or two defensive positions we need to look at,” he said.

And of the possibility of more players leaving, he added: “We had one or two offers after the deadline which I'm weighing up for next week.”

Keane is looking forward to pitting himself against Boro boss Gordon Strachan, who was his manager at Celtic.

And of the challenge ahead, he said: “When a team gets relegated everyone automatically assumes you’re going to finish in the top three, but it doesn’t always work out that way.

“Football’s not that simple but the signs look better for them, especially in recent away games and the fact they scored four goals the other day (at Doncaster).

“We played them earlier in the season when they had a different manager and different players.

“They were a lot stronger than us that day and it’s a bit like when we played West Brom last Tuesday.

“We’re a lot better now than we were then.”

For a full report, reaction and pictures from Portman Road, see Monday's Daily Gazette.

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