HOT-shot Alan Lee is so happy he stayed a Blue instead of going to Hull City and has revealed he wants to end his playing career at Portman Road.

By Derek Davis

HOT-shot Alan Lee is so happy he stayed a Blues instead of going to Hull City and has revealed he wants to end his playing career at Portman Road.

Lee was the subject of a £600,000 bid from the Tigers for his services in the summer but ended up signing a new two year contract, with the option of a third year, with Ipswich Town.

That will keep the Irish striker at Ipswich until he is at least 32 and Lee is hoping he will have a few more seasons after that.

Lee said: “I'm certainly very happy here. I would love to play in the Premier League and I can't think of a better way of finishing my career than getting to the Premiership with Ipswich.

“I have played for a few clubs now but I have never been as happy in my private and professional life as I am here.

“So it would be a dream come true for me to have the final chapter here.”

While the clamour for his signature was climaxing Lee showed no inclination to join the Phil Brown revolution.

Lee said: “It was not really that unsettling. The thing that concerned me most was getting my contract sorted out with Ipswich.

“So while it was flattering that a team like Hull who were out buying good players came in for me, I was happy with the way the situation turned out at Ipswich.”

A happy Lee hit four goals in the first week of the season but while contributing well to the side in general has not netted in the past four matches so is looking to help himself at the KC Stadium where he found the net last season in the 5-2 win.

Lee said: “Subconsciously knowing I scored there last season helps. We had a good result last weekend but I don't want to go too long without a goal for myself. You have to keep ticking along so I will be very focused at Hull.”

While the strike force pretty much takes care of itself with Lee up alongside Pablo Counago who hit two goals in the win over Coventry and was voted into the Championship Team of the Week, Town are likely to stick with the same 4-4-2 formation that brought success against Coventry City.

The only injury worry manager Jim Magilton has is at right back where David Wright is suffering from an infected blister on a heel.

Sito Castro could fill Wright's place although Chris Casement and Fabian Wilnis are also in contention.

Magilton said: “I see Fabian more as a centre half, while Sito and Chris have been outstanding in the reserves so we will see.”

Alex Bruce will be looking to celebrate his 23rd birthday of yesterday with a clean sheet today alongside skipper Jason de Vos who scored at hull last time they played.

Danny Haynes, who also netted in that game, has been added to the squad of 19 after his three-match ban.

Hull City squad: Myhill, Duke, Ricketts, Brown, Turner, Dawson, Garcia, Ashbee, Marney, Hughes, Okocha, Pederson, Folan, Windass, Bridges, McPhee, Livermore, Delaney.

Ipswich Town squad: Alexander, Supple, Sito, Wright, Harding, Wilnis, De Vos, Bruce, Casement, Legwinski, Peters, Roberts, Miller, Garvan, Lee, Walters, Counago, Clarke, Haynes.

* Blues fans are warned that Hull Fair is also taking place at the KC Stadium so car parking will be severely limited.