SCUNTHORPE United manager, former physio Nigel Adkins, is fearing further goals from Jon Walters when his team visits Portman Road in the Championship tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).

By Elvin King

SCUNTHORPE United manager, former physio Nigel Adkins, is fearing further goals from Jon Walters when his team visits Portman Road in the Championship tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).

Adkins has revealed that he tried to sign Walters from Chester last January.

The Iron, who make their first visit to Suffolk since 1960, offered £200,000, but Walters chose to join Ipswich Town instead.

Walters played three games on loan at Scunthorpe in 2005 when with Hull City.

“On the same day we made our offer, Jon signed for Ipswich,” said Adkins.

“He is a lad from Birkenhead, where I come from, and will pose a massive threat coming off the wing.

“I knew what sort of character he is having worked with him behind the scenes.

“He is going to work his socks off for Ipswich, and is still developing. He has got to be allowed to make mistakes.

“In 2005 he brought so much to the table and that's why I wanted to bring him in on a permanent basis.

“He has gone to Ipswich and what a great job he has done, because he has been given the opportunity to flourish.”

Adkins led Scunthorpe to promotion last season, and he says that his club have nothing to lose tomorrow.

He is set to organise a counter-attacking approach, and said: “We have got nothing to lose. In fact, we can't lose.

“It doesn't matter what happens, we can't lose against a club like Ipswich.

“We will devise how we can get at them with the players we have available.”

Scunthorpe will be the most shorthanded yet this season with Matthew Sparrow's one-match suspension seeing him join full-back Kelly Youga, who is serving a four-game ban.

Sparrow's absence could mean on-loan Chelsea youngster Jack Cork return to the centre of the park with New Zealand international Dave Mulligan brought in at right-back for his first start of the season.

No other changes are expected from the team which drew 2-2 with QPR last weekend.

Scunthorpe are without a win in eight matches and have only won one in the last 13. Both of their last two victories have been away, at Sheffield Wednesday and Colchester.

First choice right-back Cliff Byrne is out with a broken leg with Peter Winn - a first year professional - due to replace Sparrow in the squad.

Tomorrow's squads

Ipswich Town: Alexander; Wright, Wilnis, Bruce, De Vos, Sito, Haynes, Garvan, G Williams, Walters, Lee, Counago, Supple, Harding, Clarke, Roberts, Legwinski, Miller, Casement, Trotter.

Scunthorpe United: Murphy; Mulligan, Crosby, Butler, M Williams; Hurst, Cork, Goodwin, Forte; Hayes, Paterson, Lillis, Baraclough, Ameobi, Morris, Winn.

Referee: Mr J Singh (Middlesex).