Jansen set to sign

Last updated : 11 March 2009 By Gvred

Jansen to sign for Dragons

Former Blackburn Rovers striker Matt Jansen has joined Wrexham until the end of the season.

The former England U-21 international was in the stands for the Dragons' 1-1 home draw with Forest Green Rovers last night and is expected to come into the side in place of the injured Marc Williams.

Wrexham boss Dean Saunders is hoping the experience of the former Crystal Palace hitman will help Wrexham achieve a play-off place.

He told the Daily Post: "Matt is not doing it for the money, he is not earning a lot.

"He wants to come and get back to enjoying playing football again, he has not been enjoying it.

"We will not tie him down on a long term deal but if he is enjoying it, I am sure he will stay here longer. It is ideal for him and just what we need.

"Matt has done it to help me and get the club get back up there. He will be in training tomorrow and we will see how his fitness is, but he is available to play Saturday.

"Matt is a class player but I am not expecting miracles. He will come in, work hard and hopefully will show the bits of quality I know he has got in him.

"Matt has not played a lot in the last 18 months but he has been training, so we will see how it goes tomorrow.

Jansen has been training with Huddersfield Town and scored in a reserve outing against Rotherham United recently. Matt is a good friend of Dragons defender John Curtis, who has been instrumental in persuading Jansen to come to the racecourse. Matt has six England U21 caps, and at one time looked forward to a promising career as a premiership player. But Matt was badly injured in a motor cycle crash in 2002, and since then his appearances have been restricted.

Matt cost Blackburn rovers £4.1 million when he signed from Crystal Palace in 1999 and scored on his debut against Tottenham Hotspur. He won a League cup winners medal in 2002 scoring the first goal in Blackburn's victory against Spurs. Sadly Matt was then seriously injured in a motorcycle crash in Italy, and since his recovery has had spells with Bolton Wanderers and Coventry City, as well as another spell with Blackburn in an attempt to regain his fitness.

Outside of football Matt has other business interests and also has a Masters Degree from Durham university.