JIMMY Bullard will today make his return to the Ipswich Town fold with words of advice from his manager ringing in his ears.

Blues boss Paul Jewell has called on his mercurial midfielder – a player he has signed on two separate occasions – to start doing his talking on the pitch after his two-week suspension following his off-the-pitch indiscretions.

The manager said: “I think he has realised he has let himself and his team mates down but I am wiping the slate clean.

“It is no good holding grudges, he has made a mistake but it has been dealt with. He isn’t the first player to do this and he definitely won’t be the last player, but hopefully it will be the last time Jimmy does that.

“That’s what we have asked of him. We want to give him a chance and if he doesn’t take it, he doesn’t take it.”

Bullard was suspended for a fortnight on the eve of the Bristol City match after turning up late for training along with team mate Michael Chopra.

The pair had been spotted frequenting Newcastle nightspots in the 48 hours previous with the striker fined two week’s wages.

Jewell revealed that Bullard had called him on Tuesday night to once again express his remorse and the Town manager hopes giving his big name 14 days away from football will have reignited his hunger for the game.

Bullard has not started for Ipswich since their 4-0 defeat at Burnley in November and while tomorrow’s visit of

Peterborough comes too soon, the 33-year-old could ironically come back into his manager’s thinking when the Clarets come to town next Wednesday night.

And while he is struggling for match fitness, due to the suspension but also the fact he has not started for four months, Jewell has no qualms that Bullard would be ready – when called upon.

Jewell said: “He is a naturally fit guy and we will give him a fitness test today.

“I know he is very upset about what happened and he accepts full responsibility for his actions. I know Jimmy better than most people and I know he has been straining at the leash because he loves playing football.

“He will have been hurting and hopefully he has learnt from his mistake.”