LOAN signing Andy Taylor took part in a specially-arranged training session yesterday and immediately bought into the Town squad's sense of humour.
The 20-year-old took no time at all to agree a one-month move to the Galpharm and, after meeting manager Peter Jackson, it was a quick change and photoshoot before joining his new teammates.
Blackburn's promising left-back was immediately beaming all over his face as Luke Beckett gave him stick for ruining what would normally have been a day off for the senior ranks.
And Taylor - who is keen to build on loan spells at QPR, Blackpool and Crewe which have all come in the past 12 months - was quick to respond with some funnies of his own.
"I'm predominently a left-back and very left sided, although the right foot can be used in emergencies," he smiled.
"I'm solid as a defensive player but I do like to get forward when I get the chance, putting crosses in to make things happen in the opposition box.
"If required, I can take a free-kick as well. I don't know who is 'on' them here but I can provide another option for the manager on free-kicks and I'll put myself forward if required."
Taylor has been brought in to replace the departed Danny Adams and to help through Joe Skarz, the 17-year-old Town product who has filled in manfully in the last few games and who has today earned a 12-month deal.
Taylor is confident he can do a sound job at League I level, having been in Mark Hughes' first-team squad at Ewood for the past two months.
"I was at Crewe for two months up to the end of November, when I was called back to Blackburn to travel with the first-team because of a crop of injuries," he explained. "I thought at the time 'this could be my chance' and it was a good sign for me to be in the manager's thinking, but it didn't work out as I wanted.
"People got back and I didn't get to play, but being in the squad can't be a bad thing and the chance has come now for me to go out on loan again and to get more experience."
Taylor has 12 senior matches to his name so far and is keen to add to the tally exactly a year after his first move from his hometown club.
"QPR was my first loan move and, like this, it came at the last minute and out of the blue,"he said.
"I just jumped on a train down to London and started playing. It was great experience but, unfortunately, Ian Holloway (the manager at the time) got sacked and I was sent back to Blackburn basically because of the financial situation at Loftus Road.
"I came back north but was keen to get some more first-team football, so I went immediately on loan over to Blackpool.
"I enjoyed it there because I knew the manager, Simon Grayson, and his assistant, Tony Parkes, because they'd been at Blackburn.
"It was great to get some games there, and likewise at Crewe, and it's all been good experience for me."
Taylor - an England Under 19 and Under 20 cap- found out on Tuesday of Peter Jackson's interest and jumped at the chance.
"I didn't really know any of the lads here, although I've played against some of the younger ones in the Academy, but I enjoyed training and they seem a really good bunch," he said.
"The Academy coaches at Blackburn, like Sean Kimberley and Bobby Downes, have helped me along the way and then in first-team training I've had a lot of help from Eddie Niedzwiecki and Glyn Hodges, so I feel I'm ready to play at a good level."
Taylor wasn't the only Blackburn prospect to go out on loan yesterday as Cercle Brugge took Irish right-back Tony Kane.
Town's capture believes he can deliver for Jackson.
"He told me there was a lot of expectation on the club this season and they have not done as well as they wanted," revealed Taylor.
"The manager said we are still trying to push for the play-offs and, with a few good results strung together, we can definitely do that.
"He is keen to shore up the defence after conceding more goals than he would have liked and he also wants me to see if I can get the ball in the box as often as possible for the strikers. I'm sure I can do that and I just want to help the club push for the top."
Booth has six goals in 29 appearances this season while Skarz has figured in seven starts and one substitute appearance since making his debut at home to Scunthorpe in November.
Rachubka's move is little surprise after previously being linked with MK Dons, Macclesfield and Stockport.
"Rabs wants first-team football while we need to push Simon Eastwood forward," explained Jackson.
"Simon is a keeper I rate very highly and this is his opportunity to sample life in the first-team squad."
On the transfer window in general, when Town have recruited only Taylor but let Pawel Abbott, Danny Adams and Rachubka go, Jackson admitted his work is far from done.
"We are in a period where I want to bring more players into the club," he said.
"The transfer system kicks up again for loans next week, so I will try to see if we can make something happen then.
"I am disappointed not to have got more players in - especially as I've had money to spend - but it hasn't been for the lack of trying or a lack of effort which everyone has put in."
