SO long has David Norris been battling back from injury that his best friends at Ipswich Town are physio Matt Byard and fitness coach Simon Thadani.

Derek Davis

SO long has David Norris been battling back from injury that his best friends at Ipswich Town are physio Matt Byard and fitness coach Simon Thadani.

With just nine games under his belt since the £2m move from Plymouth Argyle Norris is determined to get back playing and repay the faith manager Jim Magilton showed in his relentless pursuit to sign the 26-year-old.

Norris said: “I have only played nine games so no-one has seen the best of me yet. I really want to be playing so I can show the fans what I can do and repay the gaffer because he showed so much faith in me.

“I signed a three-year deal so I have plenty of time to make my mark.”

Quite where he can best make his mark has been open to discussion with many feeling he would be better in the middle but competition for places there is so tough he has been used mainly on the right by Town, as he was so often at Plymouth.

Norris said: “To be honest I don't mind playing either position as I played in both at Plymouth but if could choose I would play the central role because you can get all round the pitch and it is not so restrictive.

“That said I have played a lot on the right in my career so I don't mind and my goal came from playing on the right.”

Norris went on as a substitute in the 4-1 league cup win over Leyton Orient but once again was left home alone, well with wife Claire who he married in the summer.

He is due to play for the reserves at Portman Road on Tuesday night against Peterborough as Ipswich look for their third title in a row and he is hoping he can start making new friends within the team.

Norris said: “Hopefully I can now start fresh. It is tough because you are in the changing room and you see the lads go out training. I've not been at the club long and my best friends here are the physio and fitness trainer.

“The worst bit was not been able to kick the ball. While injuries are part and parcel of football the whole timing was bad after just joining a new club.

“It is not really a football injury. It is a rare injury and even the specialist I spoke to said he had not seen footballers with it before.

“That made it worse for me because it is such a complex injury.”

Patience has been the watchword for Norris and after getting a run out in midweek and he had to accept staying behind this weekend as the Town party set off for Turf Moor.

He said: “I'm so eager now to get back in the frame but I can understand where he is coming from. The manager and the physios don't want me to rush back because the last thing I need is another set back.

“I have only trained three days and got half an hour on Tuesday so this weekend is a good time to get some training under my belt and full week next.

“It is hugely frustrating to get injured so early after arriving. It came on gradually and we tried to manage it but in the Charlton game was when I tore it.”

David Wright also missed out on the visit to Burnley after picking up a medial ligament injury after turning his ankle against Preston last week.