Colchester United have boosted their defensive options today with the loan signing of New Zealand international Tommy Smith from rivals Ipswich Town until the end of the season.

Smith, who is training with the U’s for the first time this morning, is available for their League One trip to play Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.

However, the centre-back is set to be part of the New Zealand squad which takes on China in Wuhan, on March 25.

As a result, he is expected to miss the U’s home game against Oldham Athletic next Tuesday, along with the home game against Exeter City, next weekend.

Smith cannot return to Town for a month but after that, the defender can be called back to the Championship club on a 24-hour recall.

Colchester manager John Ward said: “Tommy’s a good player and he has international pedigree as well for a young man.

“I’m really pleased to bring him in and bolster up that back-line.

“We have Pat (Baldwin) in the treatment room and Magnus (Okuonghae) is injured and Matt (Heath) and Nathan (Clarke) have got every game to be involved in.

“It’s really important that we help them out as well.”

Smith has found regular first-team football hard to come by at Portman Road this season.

The 20-year-old, who is a product of the Blues’ Academy, has played 22 times for Ipswich in this campaign, scoring three times.

He scored his first professional goal for them when he netted in Town’s 3-1 win at Middlesbrough, on the opening day of the Championship season.

However, Smith has not featured for Town since playing against Coventry City, on New Year's Day.

Smith, who has also had loan spells at Brentford and Stevenage, played for New Zealand in last year’s World Cup, in South Africa.

For all of the latest Colchester United news, see the Gazette.