GARY Roberts has denied ever being interested in going back to former club Accrington Stanley.The Blues attacker, who played the ball in for Jon Walters to score and earn ten-men Ipswich Town a draw at Blackpool, was always determined to prove himself in the Championship.

Derek Davis

GARY Roberts has denied ever being interested in going back to former club Accrington Stanley, writes Derek Davis.

The Blues attacker, who played the ball in for Jon Walters to score and earn ten-men Ipswich Town a draw at Blackpool, was always determined to prove himself in the Championship.

Roberts said: “That was a rumour. I'm not ready to go back to League Two and the manager knows I'm not ready for League Two.

“I just want to play football and the gaffer told me that if I got my head down and worked hard there was a place for me at Ipswich.

“If had taken going on loan to get games maybe I would but I have come back in here and feel I did all right.”

Roberts returned as a first team starter for the first time in six weeks and he put his revival down to the expertise of fitness coach Simon Thadani.

Roberts said: “Simon has been great with me. Some days when you come in feeling a bit down because you are not playing he is there and helped me through it.

“We have had quite a few sessions together now and it has really paid off for me. I'm feeling sharper and quicker an able to get around the pitch.

“Fair play to Simon he offered it to me and he has helped me get my place back.”

A goal while playing up front in Town's reserve team win over Peterborough last Monday at a freezing Playford Road also prompted Magilton to use him in place of Alan Lee.

Roberts said: “Every game is good game to impress because he watches you closely and even when you are away from the first team squad knows what you are doing day in day out.

“I know I had not done to well at the start of the season so every chance I have to impress I take.

It was a nice surprise but I have worked hard in training and in reserve matches so the gaffer has rewarded me with a start which I was happy to take.

“The manager was trying something different because we have not won away.

“It suited me because love attacking and being up front was great. We got the point and deserved too.”

Robert's played a pivotal part in Town fighting back from being a goal down and losing Sito Castro to a red card.

Roberts said: “When you are down to ten men, especially away from home then it is time to dig in and do the dirty side of the job. It is about getting back and win tackles. That is possibly not mine or Danny's game but we dug in and got a deserved point.”

Although Roberts reclaimed his place he knows that competition for places is getting stiffer but he welcomes yet another challenge

He said: “Everyone wants to be in the team but it can only benefit the club and if they bring in better players then that makes us want to be even better.”