JON Walters is looking to put a nightmare three years behind him with a fresh start and make his Ipswich Town debut at Stoke City tonight.The 23-year-old, who joined the Blues in a £150,000 switch from Chester City, last night revealed to the EADT how his baby daughter went through months of traumatic surgery after being born with her intestines on the outside of her body.

By Derek Davis

JON Walters is looking to put a nightmare three years behind him with a fresh start and make his Ipswich Town debut at Stoke City tonight.

The 23-year-old, who joined the Blues in a £150,000 switch from Chester City, last night revealed to the EADT how his baby daughter went through months of traumatic surgery after being born with her intestines on the outside of her body.

Walters' career has also been blighted by a mouth infection, which forced him to miss weeks of action - and a misunderstanding cost him his Republic of Ireland Under-21s career.

The former Bolton striker has also spoken of how foreign imports hampered his progress with the Premiership club but his regret at leaving Wanderers with two years still left on his contract.

With Alan Lee suffering from a slight hamstring strain Walters has a chance of seeing action at Stoke tonight, where Fabian Wilnis will skipper the side stricken by injury.

Richard Naylor has a badly bruised toe, Alex Bruce is still suspended and club captain Jason De Vos remains sidelined with a broken foot.

Sylvain Legwinski has a hip problem while Gavin Williams and Gary Roberts are also injury doubts, although David Wright will start after returning from a one-match ban. Owen Garvan is in contention after recovering from a gashed and bruised foot.