OWEN Garvan is still a long way from regaining his place in the Ipswich Town first team.

Elvin King

OWEN Garvan is still a long way from regaining his place in the Ipswich Town first team.

Blues manager Roy Keane said last night that the fans' favourite is not showing him enough to be considered for a return.

Keane was a surprise speaker at the Ipswich Town Supporters' club's annual general meeting at the Legends Bar, Portman Road, and one of the many questions he answered from the floor concerned the 21-year-old midfielder, who has not featured since being taken off at half-time in the 2-0 defeat at West Brom at the end of August.

“Every fan has his or her favourite and those they have a soft spot for,” said Keane.

“Owen may be that player for many of our supporters.

“But he is not doing enough right now to get into the team.

“I watched him at Watford in the reserve match on Monday and he still did not do enough and won't be considered for Saturday's Championship game at Reading.

“Yes he has talent, but talent only counts for around five per cent of what is needed to become a success as a professional footballer.

“Owen has had his chances, and more chances could still come. But at the moment he needs to do more. And he knows that.

“I am hard but very fair, despite media reports that I don't speak to my players.

“I was no angel as a young player but having Brian Clough and then Sir Alex Ferguson as my manager I found them very hard but looking back very fair. I learned off them as well as my youth coaches over in Ireland.”

Keane said that he had to change the dynamics at the club when he arrived.

“We finished several points off the play-offs last season and I needed to change things,” he said. “I let a lot of good players leave, most because their contracts were up.

“Some of the new ones have taken time to fit in with Damien Delaney and Tamas Priskin examples of that. Tamas did not travel to Plymouth with us, but he was back as a substitute against Derby.

“Grant Leadbitter and Carlos Edwards on the other hand have made an immediate impact and contrary to some reports I have not been turned down left, right and centre when looking to sign players.”