DRISSA Diallo has pledged total commitment to Ipswich Town, even though it could mean the end of his international career.

DRISSA Diallo has pledged total commitment to Ipswich Town, even though it could mean the end of his international career, writes Derek Davis.

The Ipswich Town new boy exclusively told the EADT he would not be looking to extend his 20 appearances for Guinea, even though they are close to clinching a place in the finals of the African Nations Cup.

Diallo linked up with his new Blues team-mates on Tuesday after flying back from his wedding in Guinea, via Paris, and is already planning in Town's assault on Premiership promotion.

He said: "You can never say never but at the moment I will not be playing again for the national team and I will concentrate purely on my club.

"I won't be going away to play for Guinea so I will always be available to play for Ipswich."

The 30-year-old central defender, who joined as a free agent after leaving Burnley at the end of last season, is still upset at missing out on an appearance in the 2002 World Cup finals in Korea/Japan after Guinea were banned by FIFA for one year and some irregularities involving the country's FA.

He said: "I was very disappointed because we had beaten Senegal and we were in a good position to qualify for the World Cup."

Positive and confident in his ability without being the slightest bit arrogant, Diallo showed a quiet determination to achieve his dram of playing in the Premier League.

"We must all be together and we can go forward. There seems to be a lot of good feeling in the team and a quiet confidence.

"We will know more about ourselves as a team after we come back from Sweden and have played Levski Sofia."

Town fans will get their first glimpse of Diallo in action next Tuesday when they open their pre-season friendly games at Southend United.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk