OWEN Garvan is ready to make a name for himself next season with Ipswich Town.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

OWEN Garvan is ready to make a name for himself next season with Ipswich Town.

The Blues midfielder admits the campaign just gone was not his best but is determined to get back to the level that had various pundits likening him to people such as Arnold Muhren and Liam Brady.

Garvan said: “Every player is different and I want to be recognised for who I am and how I play.

“People will compare but to be honest they were players before my time and while it is all flattering I'm my own person and if I'm successful will be remembered for me and what I do.”

While Town finished a disappointing ninth, Garvan was not happy with his lack of impact.

He said: “I only played in half the games, which has been frustrating. It was my worst season up to date and I want to put that right.

“As a team and personally we have been below par. We wanted to step up from last year when we were a bit unlucky not to make the play-offs.

“But the performances and the results were just not good enough but next year we know we can do better.”

Garvan has welcomed the arrival of Roy Keane as the new manager, and his coach Tony Loughlan.

He said: “Every coach has his own different technique and training under Tony and Roy has been tough but enjoyable.

“They changed it a bit and everyone was working even harder with shorter sharper sessions.”

Garvan's Town team-mate Tommy Smith is another who can't wait for next season after recovering from a broken ankle to play in the 2-1 win over Coventry City in final game of the season.

Smith made his debut on the opening day of the season but missed most of the campaign with the injury he insists will make him a tougher character.

He added: “Football is a short career and you have to make the most of every second.

“The injury has given me an incentive to work that much harder and make a success of myself.

“I am tougher mentally and can now cope better.

“Last summer I had a great pre-season, and I want to do the same again, but without the injury at the end of it.

“I'll be working on that in the summer. I was a bit tired at the end of the game as I hadn't played 90 minutes football since my injury, but it was really great to be back.”

Jordan Rhodes is also making good progress from a broken foot and plans to be back in full training when the whole squad returns for pre-season.

He said: “I'm on the mend. I should start walking in a few days then hopefully be fit for pre-season."

Rhodes hobbled round with the Brentford players as they celebrated their League Two title win, in which he received a Champions medal, and admitted he would fancy a return to Griffin Park but only if he was surplus to requirement at Portman Road.

Rhodes added: “Roy Keane has told us if we work hard in training then he'll give us the rewards we deserve.

"My aim is to be involved with the Ipswich first team. I have a year left on my contract.

"But if things don't work out at Ipswich then I'd love to come back."

Rhodes will be joined in the treatment room by skipper Gareth McAuley who suffered knee ligament damage in training last week, just as he recovered from a hamstring problem.

He will miss Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifiers next month.

David Wright is doing well after his hamstring problem while Jon Walters is working on his sore ankle.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk