IPSWICH TOWN: Darren O’Dea is keeping to himself the reason his loan period with Reading did not prove a success.

IPSWICH TOWN: Darren O’Dea is keeping to himself the reason his loan period with Reading did not prove a success.

The 23-year-old defender is expected to face the Royals tonight at the Madejski Stadium (kick-off 8pm) looking to help maintain the Blues’ unbeaten away record.

The Republic of Ireland international had a loan spell at Reading last season, but he admits that things did not go as he planned.

“I know what happened, and I know what went wrong, but I’m keeping that to myself,” said O’Dea.

“But I went back to Celtic and played in every first team game until the end of last season.

“So I had improved and the move did me no harm.

“There are good people at Reading and I keep in touch with a few.

“They have quality players and it was difficult to fathom why we were not winning games.

“But I’m going there tonight looking for an Ipswich win of course.”

O’Dea, who is loan at Portman Road from Celtic until January, is not in full training after taking a blow to his knee soon after his arrival from Celtic Park.

“The injury is being monitored and I’m getting through games,” O’Dea added.

“But I’m mainly doing light training still.”

He says that he considers himself a full time Ipswich Town player.

“I can’t afford to think too far ahead,” he said.

“You might be a loan player but you have got to feel fully part of it.

“I feel as much part of the Ipswich side as anyone, and I’ll give as much as anyone.

“I don’t know what will happen long term, and to be honest it doesn’t bother me in the slightest.

“That will take care of itself. I’m here until January 17 and I’m just concentrating on the next game.

“Coming to Portman Road was too good an opportunity to miss, as at my age and at my stage of career I want to play games.

“The new Celtic manager brought in a number of players, and of course he wants to play them.

“I pushed for a move away.”

Town manager Roy Keane was a player with Celtic when O’Dea was just starting in the game.

“I can remember him, of course I can, and it was great training with him. I never played with him though.

“As a manager he is straightforward, and he demands 100% all the time.

“That should be a given anyway and I don’t need to be told to give my all.

“He tells you when you’ve done well and when you haven’t done well, and so far its been fine.”

Having played in the Scottish Premier League and the Championship, O’Dea says that both have some very talented players. He went on:

“The intensity of the Championship is high and it can be quite frantic at times.”