Is Richard Fabio's Mr Wright?

Derek Davis

RICHARD Wright has done his international chances no harm after a sparkling display in front of England coach Fabio Capello at Stamford Bridge.

Although Ipswich Town went down

3-1 to Chelsea and exit the FA Cup in the fourth round, the Blues 'keeper impressed.

While it was likely Capello was checking out Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole ahead of England's friendly in Spain next month, he can't have failed to have noticed Wright, who has made no secret of his ambition to get back in the national squad.

The 31-year-old will stand a better chance if he is playing in the Premier League and Wright is hoping Town can use the display against Chelsea as a catalyst in the Championship.

He said: “I'm really enjoying my football. I can't wait to play every week and I can't wait to go to Oakwell on Tuesday.

“That will be the acid test. We played well against Chelsea, defended well at times. We need to build on that and take the positives from the game then we need to prove we can do it again in the Championship.”

With 17th-placed Barnsley away tomorrow, followed by 16th-placed Plymouth at home on Saturday, it is an ideal opportunity for six points this week.

Wright said: “We have to make sure we win these up and coming games. They are winnable and we believe we can win them so we have to go out and make sure we put on a good performance.

“If we go there with the same attitude as we did against Chelsea then we can do that.”

The former Arsenal and Everton keeper, who has two full England caps, was beaten by two Michael Ballack strikes and an exceptional free kick from England midfielder Frank Lampard.

Wright said: “The ball flew all over the places and it just dipped at the last moment.

“I have never faced anything like that from Frank before. But we watch Match of The Day and know his quality. These balls move all over the place but we just have to get on with it.”

That was the difference between what Town faced on Saturday and what they deal with every other week.

Wright said: “If you give people opportunities at the top level they will punish you. You may get away with a couple of things in the Championship but we gave away free kicks and players of that quality will punish you and that was the case.

“We were disappointed because we didn't win but the performance was there.

“We weathered the storm and equalised but the two free kicks beat us.”

Wright hopes that playing the likes of Chelsea will become a regular thing for Town.

He said: “We have belief in ourselves and we are going in the right direction.

“I want to play at the highest level and I came to Ipswich Town because the club is on the up. We have a great owner, manager, staff everyone, and we are going in the right direction and I want to be part of it.”

Chelsea will now play Watford away in the fifth round.

Due to Nottingham Forest and Derby County needing a replay, Ipswich's game with Forest scheduled for Tuesday, February 2, will now be rearranged to a date to be announced.