DAMIEN Delaney has alleged that he did not speak to Roy Keane despite the Irish footballing legend being his manager at Portman Road for 18 months.

The 29-year-old defender is looking to end this season on a high after recovering from a serious pre-season injury and he is set to be in an unchanged Ipswich Town side that takes on Sheffield United at Portman Road in the Championship tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).

“I’m enjoying my football and enjoying playing for our new manager,” said Delaney.

“I have no issue with the former manager. He chopped and changed his squads and we all had times when we were sitting on the sidelines.

“You just had to get with it and we did not speak.

“It was his way of doing things.

“If a manager picks you it shows he has faith in you and I’m looking forward to finishing the season strongly.”

Delaney insists that the new belief Paul Jewell has brought to the team will hold them in good stead as they look to move significantly up the table.

“It was an unbelievable feeling at Derby on Tuesday that when we went a goal down we knew we were capable of going on to win,” added Delaney.

“We have come from behind to win both our last two league games, and I can’t remember that before here.

“As soon as Derby scored we looked around at each other and thought ‘No problem we’ve 80 minutes to get back into the game’.

“This is the belief the manager has brought. Before we would go behind and think we’re in big trouble.

“We didn’t panic at Pride Park and kept doing what the manager wanted us to do and it came good.

“Jimmy Bullard equalised with a great strike and when David Norris scored we just knew we were going to win.”

Striker Connor Wickham, 17, has been nominated in the Championship apprentice of the year category at this year’s Football League awards. Despite recently signing a new professional contract until 2013, Wickham is still a second-year academy player.

The England Under-21 international faces competition from Adam Thompson (Watford) and Wilfred Zaha (Crystal Palace) at a gala ceremony at The Brewery, London on Sunday March 20.