DANNY Haynes may be compared to a bottle of pop but he is aging like a fine wine at Ipswich Town.Haynes will celebrate his 20th birthday on Saturday and feels, as he gets older, he is maturing well as a footballer thanks to the coaching of Bryan Klug and Steve Foley.

Derek Davis

DANNY Haynes may be compared to a bottle of pop but he is aging like a fine wine at Ipswich Town.

Haynes will celebrate his 20th birthday on Saturday and feels, as he gets older, he is maturing well as a footballer thanks to the coaching of Bryan Klug and Steve Foley.

Haynes scored a corking good goal to give the Blues the lead over Stoke and put it down to practice making perfect.

He said: “The coaches have been working with me all week on doing exactly that. I was told to hit the ball across the keeper and worked on it all week. I did that and it went in off the post into the back of the net.

“That was so different to last week when David James saved a couple.

“The second chance against Stoke I probably should have scored too and it was a crucial moment. I let fly but it was a good save from the keeper.”

Haynes, who started as a defender at Charlton before being released, feels his defensive awareness has also been sharpened and that has played a part in moving from an impact player to a reliable starter.

He said: “The manager wanted me to have more responsibility in getting back and that is why he has given me a chance to start. I have learnt about the defensive side of the game and that is partially why I have been given the chance to start.

“I feel my game has come on in the past couple of months and the key thing is learning about being defensive and not charging forward all the time.”

Haynes revealed he was booked for his reaction after being accused of diving by Danny Pugh and not the alleged simulation.

He said: “The ref told me to cut it out but I never felt I was in danger of being sent off. I enjoyed the physical contact with Danny Pugh. I enjoyed the competitive side.”

Manager Jim Magilton is delighted with the progress Haynes is making.

He said: “Joe Royle got it right when he described him as a bottle of pop. Sometimes he's full of fizz and sometimes he's a bit flat.

“He's added some consistency to his game, though, and his work ethic and attitude has been first class, not only in matches but every day in training.

“If he keeps applying himself in the same way he can be anything he wants to be.”

Haynes' displays, and his four goals this season, have attracted interest from Premier League clubs but he insists it is not turning his head.

He said: “I have learnt to just take it. It is always nice to be linked with Premier clubs but I'm not taking any notice. I'm just interested in helping Ipswich.”