FANS favourite Owen Garvan is looking forward to making his Crystal Palace debut on Saturday after being convinced that he did enough to have played more games for Ipswich Town last season.

The 22-year-old midfielder and Republic of Ireland Under-21 captain completed his �250,000 move to Crystal Palace on Tuesday, and he is still having to pinch himself after never expecting to leave Portman Road.

“Last season was a difficult one for me and I was left out of the team for a long while,” he said.

“I thought I was good enough to play but the man who picks the team did not.

“You’ve got no chance then.

“I could have had another year at Ipswich, but football is a short career and I am at an age when I want to play.

“There are times when you have to make your own tough decisions, and although I was a bit apprehensive at first I think this move will be good for me.

“I was not earning my money when out of the team and it was frustrating sitting on the bench or not being involved at all.

“I would have had no qualms if the team was winning, but when it was not and I was still not featuring it was very frustrating.

“I got back in and I thought I did okay and deserved to be playing even though it was a new position for me on the left, and we ended the season reasonably well.”

Garvan was one of the eight players Town manager Roy Keane made available for transfer last month, and he’d lost his number seven squad number and would have worn 17 if he had stayed.

Although appreciated by supporters, Garvan’s chances of featuring regularly for Ipswich this coming season looked remote, and it is to play football every Saturday that has seen him make this move.

He made 173 appearances for Town and scored 15 goals, but last season he only made 13 league starts.

“ A couple of years ago I could not see myself leaving Ipswich Town,” he added.

“But I have a better chance of playing with Palace now than with Ipswich - and at the end of the day this is what I came over from Ireland to do.

“I just want to play football and Ipswich is in the past now.

“I got on well with Ipswich fans and they were very good to me - and I would like to thank them for that.”

Garvan has trained with his new team mates this week, who include former Town stars Alan Lee, David Wright, Darren Ambrose and Lewis Price, and he went on:

“They are a good bunch and it all seems relaxed with everybody looking forward to the first game.

“I wish Ipswich well, and look forward to coming back to Portman Road to play. If both teams reach the play-offs that would be great.”