OWEN Garvan has assured Ipswich Town fans that he is happy and has no intentions of turning his back on Portman Road.Speaking publicly for the first time since the Irish midfielder caused a furore at the beginning of pre-season training when he asked, and got, a couple of extra days off to go to Dublin, Garvan insists it was no big deal and he is now focused on the job in hand.

By Derek Davis

OWEN Garvan has assured Ipswich Town fans that he is happy and has no intentions of turning his back on Portman Road.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the Irish midfielder caused a furore at the beginning of pre-season training when he asked, and got, a couple of extra days off to go to Dublin, Garvan insists it was no big deal and he is now focused on the job in hand.

Manager Jim Magilton explained at the time that the 19-year-old was homesick but he had soothed things over after a heart-to-heart.

Garvan last night said: “The whole thing got blown out of proportion. I went home to see my family for a few days and then came back.

“I'm 100% happy and I'm glad to be playing at Portman Road so I have no intention of disappearing anywhere.

“I'm always happy to be playing football. I always wanted to play as a young kid. I had a good pre-season behind me and hopefully can carry that on.”

Garvan has fought off stiff opposition to keep his place in the centre of midfield alongside Tommy Miller but accepts he may be moved out to the left, as he was in the latter stages of the Carling Cup loss at MK Dons, to accommodate Sylvain Legwinski.

Garvan said: “It is competitive for places and that is what the manager wants. Everyone has to give their best and then it is down to the manager who he picks.

“No matter what position the manager sees me in or feels I can do the best job for the team, I want to play and do the best I can.”

Town go to Plymouth tomorrow looking to build on the 4-1 success over Sheffield Wednesday last week and Garvan believes he, and the team, will get better.

He said: “The team played well last Saturday but I felt I could improve. I personally felt I started the game poorly on Tuesday but got better as the game went on.

“I can still do a lot better though and there is loads more to come from me personally and loads to come from the team too.

“We need to prove that we can get into the top six and after one win from one league game, that continues on Saturday.”

But Garvan accepts that won't be easy at Home Park against a Plymouth side that has flourished under Ian Holloway.

He said: “The manager has done a really good job there and they have had a very good start.

“Plymouth rely heavily on their home results and it is quite a fortress down there. We know it will be a battle and we will have to give everything. If we do that and have a bit of luck on the day, then we can come away with the right result.”

Picking up more points on their travels will be vital if Town are to mount a promotion push.

Garvan added: “We are all massively disappointed to be out of the Carling Cup in the first round and we certainly need to find consistency.

“We know our away form last season was not very good. We can't just rely on our home form. We need to go on the road and show what we are made of and come through these tough games with a win.

“We have to try and stay in the game as long as we can and when they get frustrated and throw men forward, we can hit them on the break.”