ED Upson wants to be remembered for more than securing the FA Youth Cup for Ipswich Town.He will be doing all he can to help the Blues reach the last 16 of this season's competition against Watford at Portman Road tonight (kick-off 7pm).

Elvin King

ED Upson wants to be remembered for more than securing the FA Youth Cup for Ipswich Town.

He will be doing all he can to help the Blues reach the last 16 of this season's competition against Watford at Portman Road tonight (kick-off 7pm).

But his main target this season is to gain a place in Jim Magilton's first team.

The midfielder is already an FA Youth Cup legend after being plucked out of King Edward School, Bury St Edmunds as a 15-year-old to score a sensational winner in the second leg of the 2004/05 final against Southampton.

Now 18, this is his fourth time he has been involved in this Blue Riband youth competition - and he is hoping to go all the way again.

“Doing well in the FA Youth Cup is obviously high on my list of priorities,” said Upson, a regular in the Town reserve side.

“But my main target this season is to play in the first team.

“I am happy with my progress, but I would like to be closer than I am at the moment.”

Upson, along with striker Jordan Rhodes, who has already made his Coca-Cola Championship debut, Tommy Smith and Jai Reason are the best known names in tonight's Ipswich squad.

Smith missed the last round, but Upson, Rhodes and Reason all scored as Town hit back from being 3-1 down with ten minutes left to beat QPR 5-3 after extra time in the previous round.

“We showed our mental strength and fitness at Loftus Road,” said Upson. “But we must put that down to a great achievement and move on.

“We know we will have to move the ball around against Watford, and hopefully having a big crowd behind us will give us a boost.

“And playing on the main pitch as well we will need no motivation.”

Six of the 2005 side have gone on to become regulars in the first team squad, but Upson said: “They were a different bunch of lads, but this one also has some very capable players.”

Upson says his memory of the 2005 final is a bit of a blur. But he recalled: “I was taken out of school to be on standby.

“Then I was named as a substitute, and then came on for the final minutes of extra time. I can remember the goal - a 20-yard screamer - but much else is a blur.”

The winners of tonight's game will be away to either Colchester or Aston Villa who play tonight at Layer Road.