OWEN Garvan has spoken of his devastation at being sent home to Dublin for rest after a blood disorder dented his hopes of getting the season off to a flying start.

By Derek Davis

OWEN Garvan has spoken of his devastation at being sent home to Dublin for rest after a blood disorder dented his hopes of getting the season off to a flying start.

The 18-year-old Irishman flew back to Ireland to spend a couple of days with his family and recuperate after being laid low once more following a spell on the sidelines with shingles and a knee injury.

While the knee problem, a recent scan showed some fluid around the joint, has eased considerably and he was able to play a cameo role against Lazio on Friday night and then 45 minutes for the reserve side against Cambridge United on Saturday, Garvan lacked any energy.

He said: “The knee was fine and while I didn't feel too bad in the 20 minutes against Lazio, I didn't feel great either.

“Then I played a half at Cambridge and I was not able to do anything. I was not helping the team or myself at all so I had to say something.

“I don't like coming off or not playing and with the new season just around the corner I'm devastated about this.”

Garvan will return to Ipswich on Thursday for the results of a latest blood test and will stay to cheer the team on against Crystal Palace on Saturday but is clearly disappointed to be laid low.

“He added: I have been told to go home to Dublin and basically stay in bed for a couple of days and just spend time with my family.

“Hopefully when I get the results of the blood test it will help but at the moment there is not much I can do. It could be that I didn't recover from the shingles properly but I don't know yet.”

Garvan's setback is a blow to the Blues as well as the player with the club hoping this season would not continue last year's appalling luck.

Although Nicky Forster and Dean Bowditch suffered minor groin problems in training on Monday, it is expected both will be fit to play against Peter Taylor's Palace while Gavin Williams should be fit to play.

Meanwhile, Jamie Clapham has turned down a three-year deal with Ipswich Town to join Wolverhampton Wanderers. The former Blues defender, who had a trial with Sheffield United over the weekend, decided to stay near his Midlands base after being offered a two-year contract by Mick McCarthy but higher wages than Town felt appropriate to offer.

Blues boss Jim Magilton said: “We offered Jamie a contract but he has decided to join Wolves instead which is disappointing for us but we move on and could still have someone else in soon.” Despite losing out on the 30-year-old defender Jim Magilton was optimistic he will have at least one new signing, possibly two in before the season opener against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The Blues are also still hopeful of securing the services of Manchester United defender Paul McShane and discussions continue between the interested parties.