IPSWICH TOWN: Roy Keane has revealed his displeasure at his players’ decision to vote Jack Colback as their player of the year.

He says that it emphasises the huge amount of work needed to make the Blues into a force again.

Not that the Blues manager feels that the wrong man got the vote – or that he is belittling the efforts of the 20-year-old Sunderland loanee in any way.

But Keane feels it’s a sad reflection on what his players have achieved this term.

“I wouldn’t argue with the players’ decision to vote Jack their player of the year,” said Keane.

“The boy’s been outstanding for us.

“But it says it all about the sort of season we’ve had for a youngster like Jack to receive win the award.

“Twenty years of age and he’s our player of the year.

“It just goes to show the work that we have ahead.”

And the man who knocked Newcastle’s delight in celebrating winning the Championship revealed that he is not in favour of individual awards.

He explained: “Individual awards should mean very little to players.

“It should all about the team.”

Colback, who was eased into the Ipswich team in the opening weeks of the season and has blossomed into a crucial member of the midfield, is expected to return to Sunderland and stake a claim for Premier League football next season, says he was shocked by the outcome of the vote.

He said: “It came as a complete shock.

“I could never have dreamed when I came here that I’d receive the players’ player award.

“At the start of the season I didn’t have any experience so the manager used me sparingly and let me bed in slowly.

“I was pleased about that because if he’d thrown me straight in I might not have coped as well as I think I have done.

“It was a special moment for me and a great compliment to get it from the rest of the players – my team-mates.”

Colback has only good to say about his time with Ipswich – with his final match set to be against Sheffield United at Portman Road on Sunday.

“I think I’ve improved and progressed over the course of the season,” he added.

“I’ve played in pretty much every game this year and it’s been good for me.

“It was important to get a good, competitive season under my belt.

“I can only give good, positive feedback about my time here.

“The club’s got everything and I don’t see any reason why they can’t be up there next season.

“I think that’s realistic. I thought it was realistic this season but obviously it didn’t work out as we hoped because of all the draws.

“Steve Bruce has sent people down to watch me and hopefully they’ve been impressed. Hopefully I can get in the first team at Sunderland next season.”