CARLOS Edwards says he was ‘shocked and disappointed’ at manager Paul Jewell’s decision to drop him for the recent 3-2 home loss to Doncaster Rovers.

The 33-year-old right-back found himself on the bench for the first time this season just under two weeks’ ago, with Jewell instead picking 18-year-old Manchester City loanee Reece Wabara.

Jewell later said that he felt Edwards had looked ‘flat’, restoring the Trinidadian to his line-up for last Saturday’s 3-2 loss at Nottingham Forest.

“He called me into his office on the Friday to let me know his decision and I found it a bit strange,” said Edwards.

“Maybe at the time he felt it was the right decision but I couldn’t see it from my perspective.

“I was a bit shocked and disappointed, but I’m professional enough to get my head down.”

He continued: “The manager has brought Reece in for a reason, maybe to put a rocket up my behind.

“I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong, thus far, to warrant me being dropped though.

“I’m not going to show any of the guys that come and take my place any disrespect. We’re all professional footballers and we all get disappointed when we don’t get picked.

“The manager has obviously seen something in Reece that he thought he could do that day which I couldn’t. That does motivate you try harder, if it didn’t then you shouldn’t be playing.”

Edwards – one of many in the final year of his contract – has had to deal with a lot of off-the-field worry this season. First the magistrates court fined him �2,500 and sentenced him to 200 hours community service for driving offences, before his wife gave birth prematurely to twins.

“They are out of hospital now and everything seems fine,” said Edwards. “It’s not been hard to concentrate on football. The twins have been in the best doctors’ hands and it’s paid dividends. Now they are hope and so far everything seems fine. I thank the fans for their support and hope I can repay them on the pitch.”

Meanwhile, the right-back says he’ll continue to play for Trinidad & Tobago despite the fact they have already failed to qualify for the 2016 World Cup.

“I’m not just going to turn my back on it (international football),” said Edwards. “Hopefully the new coach will still want me involved.”

– Full match preview of Ipswich v Reading in tomorrow’s EADT and Evening Star.