MATT Richards was as good as his word and fired in his first goal of the season to salvage a point for Ipswich against stubborn Burnley.The 19-year-old defender told the EADT on Saturday he was a good striker of the ball but attacked sparingly.

MATT Richards was as good as his word and fired in his first goal of the season to salvage a point for Ipswich against stubborn Burnley.

The 19-year-old defender told the EADT on Saturday he was a good striker of the ball but attacked sparingly.

Richards said: “I did say I was quite good at shooting and I was happy to oblige.

“There was a player covering the near post so I hit it back across the goal and it went in off the post.

“We had so many good opportunities but it didn't look as if it was going to be our day so everyone was happy that it went in.”

Town had a penalty appeal turned down and hit the woodwork five times, with Pablo Counago, Tommy Miller, Shefki Kuqi and Kevin Horlock all going close.

But Burnley went ahead through Robbie Blake and then were happy to sit back and invite Town to attack them.

Richards said: “They made it really difficult for us, especially when they scored early. It was just a bit annoying that Pablo, Tommy Kevin and Shefki all went close hitting the bar and posts but it was not happening.”

In the same EADT interview on Saturday, Richards paid tribute to the influence John McGreal had on him as a youngster breaking into the first team.

The Scouser showed everyone he has lost none of his much vaunted abilities.

Richards said: “Johnny Mac was a leader for them. He was brilliant, made some great tackles, was good in the air and played really well. It was just a shame he was playing for them and not for us. If he had not been there we would have claimed all three points.”

Tomorrow Blues go to Leicester City's Walker Stadium where Dave Bassett and Howard Wilkinson are currently in charge, but with Colchester United boss Phil Parkinson reportedly top of the Foxes' list to be the new boss.

Richards is looking forward to going up against more old Blues.

He said: “Leicester is going to be a hard game. They have some great players that we know well, like Chris Makin, James Scowcroft and Matt Elliott. But we know we need to win to stay among the top group and we have the goalscoring ability to beat anyone.”

Jason De Vos has passed himself fit to play although Darren Bent and Kelvin Davis are likely to miss out again.

De Vos, skipper of the Canadian national team, played against Burnley with a broken toe (although the EADT knows which toe and on what foot, we are keeping it secret to avoid opponents targeting it) but didn't have an injection to numb the pain.

He came through fine against the Clarets and with the help of some ice and anti-inflammatory tablets is sure he will line up against the Foxes.

De Vos said: “I should be okay. I came through this game with no problems and as long as I don't suffer a reaction overnight or in training then I will be okay to play against Leicester.”

The injury happened as Canada lost at home to Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifier and up until Saturday morning it looked unlikely that De Vos would start.

He said: “It was very sore but I was determined to play. I did not have to have it frozen, which was good because I don't like doing that.

“I went for a jog at midday and it was okay, Certainly I didn't think I would be able to play on Friday.

“If I had been stepped on that would have caused big problems but I got through it fine.”

Davis is close to returning but may get a run out with the reserves at Charlton on Wednesday to make sure his back is fine, while Bent is not expected to be back this week after suffering a hamstring injury on England duty.