EX-IPSWICH Town striker David Lowe was the man to recommend new signing Aaron Cresswell to Paul Jewell.

EX-IPSWICH Town striker David Lowe was the man to recommend new signing Aaron Cresswell to Paul Jewell.

Cresswell put pen to paper on a four-year deal from Tranmere Rovers yesterday, although the fee is set to be decided by a Tribunal because Town and Rovers cannot agree a figure for the 21-year-old left-back.

Lowe played 134 league games for Town, between 1987 and ’92, and was the club’s leading scorer for two seasons, and his close association with Jewell helped to pave the way for Cresswell’s arrival at Portman Road.

“It was David Lowe who spoke to me about Aaron (Cresswell),” confirmed Jewell.

“I think it’s the first time the kid has been out of Liverpool really!

“I rang Cresswell up last night on the phone, and I couldn’t understand him! I told him to slow down,” joked Jewell, a fellow Liverpudlian.

Lowe, who is now 45 and recently joined Blackburn Rovers as a club coach, was a member of Jewell’s back-room staff at Wigan and again at Derby.

He became a bid admirer of Cresswell during his stint as a coach at Tranmere Rovers last season.

Jewell has no worries about Cresswell immediately making the step up to the Championship from League One club Tranmere, although he expects the player to flourish in time. Veteran Mark Kennedy, when fit, was the first choice left-back last season.

“He’s a player that we have watched a lot. We have bought potential, and we have Joe Whight and Mark Kennedy as well in that position. Between them we will be all right,” added Jewell, who interestingly neglected to name fellow left-back Shane O’Connor in that list.

O’Connor has only figured in one game, since Jewell was appointed manager in January, as a 75th minute substitute in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg defeat at Arsenal.

Jewell continued: “Aaron has a great left foot. He’s a player that might not get people off their seat, but I think he is going to be a decent player.

“He’s got to improve a lot, but we think we can improve him,” added Jewell.

Meanwhile, Jewell poured cold water on recent reports that keeper Marton Fulop was considering a move to Turkish club Bursaspor.

“Apparently that was on a website, but I knew nothing about it and there has been nothing official,” said Jewell.

“I’m happy with our two keepers (Fulop and Arran Lee-Barrett). However, you never say never, especially if anything comes out of the left-field.

“If someone offered me Pepe Reina, then I would be interested!” added Jewell, with a wry smile.