AFTER a frustrating first season at Spurs former Barcelona forward Giovani Dos Santos is looking forward to making his full Ipswich debut.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

AFTER a frustrating first season at Spurs former Barcelona forward Giovani Dos Santos is looking forward to making his full Ipswich debut.

Ipswich swooped for the Mexican after John Gorman used his contacts at White Hart Lane to learn of his availability.

Blues skipper Gareth McAuley has backed the 19-year-old to give the side a lift against Burnley tomorrow.

Dos Santos went on as a replacement for Jon Stead after 70 minutes during the 1-0 win at reading.

He said: “I thought the team played very well against Reading and now I can't wait for Tuesday. I think we have a good coach here, good players and we can do well over the rest of the season.”

After being signed by Juande Ramos from Barcelona last summer in a �4.7m deal, Dos Santos has found himself way down Harry Redknapp's pecking order behind Robbie Keane, Darren Bent and Frazier Campbell and was pleased to get a chance to play.

Dos Santos said: “I know Ipswich has a good history, was in the Premier League and is trying to get back in the Premier League. I knew the club was quite near the top of the league and is trying to get in the Play-Offs and that is why I am here, to try and help Ipswich finish in the Play Offs.”

Dos Santos is hoping to settle straight in after signing until the end of the seoasn.

He said: “I had a great reception from the fans. They made me feel very happy when they cheer my name. I'm looking forward now to playing at home on Tuesday with a big crowd there.

It helps me that some of the players speak Spanish but the lads have made me feel very comfortable already.

The football in England is very physical but I have joined a team like Ipswich that likes to pass the ball around. That is very important for me, to play for a team that plays that way because it is my game. Some teams in England play the long ball. That is no good for me. But at Ipswich, they pass, pass, pass.”

McAuley welcomed the Mexican to Portman Road and believes he can make an impact.

He said: “Gio looked lively when he came on at Reading.

“He has quick feet and comes with a big reputation.

“It is a lift for us. Big clubs like Chelsea were after him before he went to Spurs.

“He wants game and he is hungry. It is a good chance for him to score goals for us and help us out.

“It gives us fresh competition for places.”

Town's man of the match at Burnley now wants his team to reproduce the same sort of forma t home, starting with Burnley tomorrow.

He said: “It is up to us now to go on

“We could do with a clean sheet at home. The supporters played their part and got behind us and we got a result for them so hopefully it will be a good turn out on Tuesday.

“It won't be easy against Burnley by any means but we are due a result at home. They are going to take some stopping but we want clean sheets. We have that doggedness and we are hungry and hard to beat so we will make it hard for tem.

“We are still 10th but we can claw some points back off Burnley.”

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk