EVERYONE feels nervous, even Kieron Dyer!

EVERYONE feels nervous, even Kieron Dyer!

He may have played 33 games for England, and moved in Premier League circles for more than a decade, but Dyer admits that he will be feeling “very nervous” ahead of his home-coming at Portman Road this evening.

It is nearly 12 years since Dyer last donned a blue-and-white shirt to run out at Portman Road, on the occasion of a dramatic play-off semi-final second leg tie against Bolton.

He scored twice in Town’s 4-3 win on the night, only for George Burley’s men to bow out on the away goals rule.

Dyer joined Newcastle United in a �6m deal that summer, and then moved on to West Ham for a similar fee in 2007, but nothing beats the buzz of playing for his home-town club.

“I’m feeling quite nervous about tomorrow. I don’t really know what to expect,” confessed Dyer, with reference to tonight’s home game against Watford.

Speaking at his first press conference, since last Friday’s loan move from West Ham, Dyer continued: “I remember Craig (Bellamy) going back to his home town club of Cardiff earlier in the season. That first week was a blur for him.

“When I woke up on Friday, I had about 15 missed calls on my phone from the manager (Avram Grant), and the next thing I am at Leeds playing for Ipswich again!

“This club means everything to me. They gave me my chance in football, and I am a home town boy here.

“I’m quite nervous about it, but I think that’s a good thing,” added Dyer.

Dyer desperately wanted to play in the Premier League with Town, and so it was a cruel twist of fate that after three successive play-off semi-final defeats with the Suffolk club, they should then earn promotion to the top flight in 2000, the year after he had left to join Newcastle.

“That’s the only bee in my bonnet, that the season after I left, they go up!” said Dyer.

“When I scored that header (against Bolton) and it went to extra-time I could only see one team winning. It was my last game, and although it was the wrong result, everything just fell into place.

“I did make a promise to myself that I would never come back, because I thought my last game was the perfect one to say goodbye, scoring a brace in front of the North Stand.

“But I’ve been getting itchy feet over the last few years. I keep coming back here to watch games, and when the chance came for me to come here for a month and get some games, I jumped at the chance.”

Even though Dyer never made the top flight with Town, he did witness their play-off final win over Barnsley the following season.

Indirectly, he can take credit for that promotion.

“With the money they got for me, I think they bought Marcus Stewart, Jermaine Wright, John McGreal and maybe (Martijn) Reuser, so I do take credit for them going up!” added Dyer, with a smile.