STILL smarting from the defeat at Coventry City, Ipswich Town midfielder Jaime Peters is determined to help put things right against Leicester City tomorrow.

Derek Davis

STILL smarting from the defeat at Coventry City, Ipswich Town midfielder Jaime Peters is determined to help put things right against Leicester City tomorrow.

With a crowd of around 25,000 expected at Portman Road for the first home game of the new season, Peters, who will be making his 50th appearance for Town if selected, is desperate to make amends for the loss at the Ricoh Arena.

Peters said: “We learnt a lot from the game at Coventry but having lost that game we will be coming out that much harder at home on Saturday.”

Roy Keane's Ipswich are among the favourites to win promotion and Peters knows that teams will raise their game against Town this season. He is ready for that.

Peters said: “Teams might raise their games but it is down to us to match whatever they give us and go back at them. But it should not matter if Roy Keane is the manager or anyone else is the manager because you should be giving 100% every game anyway.

“From the players' perspective it should not matter because you should be up for the challenge, no matter who the manager is.

“Of course everyone respects our manager because of what he has done in the game. It is a challenge for us to keep up those standards, and it is a challenge for the opposition to match us.”

The young Canadian international was among those who came close to equalising at Coventry, operating from central midfield, a position he has played during the summer with Canada in the Gold Cup and previously in Germany.

Peters said: “I was used in central midfield in Germany and when I came here I was played as a winger.

“I have practised there before. It is a little new to me but I also played there for Canada in the summer so I know the position. I'm just taking it all on board. It is a case of learning more every day.

“I use the versatility as a positive. The more you learn and the more positions you can play can only be a good thing.”

Peters is flourishing under the new management and coaching regime.

He said: “Because I'm still young, every coach has brought something new to my game. It is the same now with Tony Loughlan and the other coaches. They talk to me every day and point out things - what I have done well and anything else- and I could not be happier.”

The 22-year-old was not used in the last campaign until he went on as a substitute full-back in the 3-2 home win over Norwich at the back-end of the season, and Keane started him at Cardiff.

After being a virtual outcast under previous manager Jim Magilton, and with a year left on his current deal, Peters is determined to make the most of this fresh opportunity.

Peters said; “It is a big season for me. I'm glad to be in the manager's plans at the moment and I aim to stay there.

“I know if I work hard every day in training then I have a chance of playing. We are all enjoying the training and looking forward to Saturdays.”

He is also optimistic about the Blues' chances of promotion under Keane.

He added: “From what I have seen so far, I believe we have a very good team and are capable of at least a top six finish and that is what we are aiming for.”

Town need to get started with a win over the newly-promoted Foxes, who got their season under way with a win over Swansea City.

Peters said: “They are a big club so they are always a big challenge. That is the Championship all over because you never know how it is going to turn out. Hopefully this Saturday it will be us on top and we come away with the three points.

“There are a lot of big teams in the Championship so on the day anyone can come out the better team, we just need to ensure it is us.

“I was disappointed not to score at Coventry but hopefully one will come against Leicester.”

With David Norris out with knee damage for the rest of this year, his place in midfield is likely to be taken by Colin Healy, although Owen Garvan is also pushing for a start.