Miller wants to stay

BIRTHDAY boy Tommy Miller will sign a new contract this month if offered one by Ipswich Town after ending his recent goal drought.

Miller celebrated his 26th birthday on Saturday with a finely-taken consolation goal as the Blues crashed out of the FA Cup to Bolton, and he is hoping to get a special gift from the club in the next three weeks.

The £1m signing from Hartlepool spoke last month of his concern that no new deal had been put to him even though his contract runs out in the summer and he would be allowed to talk to other clubs in January.

Blues boss Joe Royle has moved to placate the midfielder and Miller is keen to secure his future at Portman Road.

He said: "The manager has had a quick word with me and said we will talk about things this month.

"We will wait and see what happens but I'm hoping I will be offered a new contract. I want to stay here. You won't find many better clubs than Ipswich outside the Premiership.

"I would be stupid to leave, it is a fantastic club and we have the chance of Premiership football.

"So hopefully it will be done this month. If not we will wait and see what happens."

Miller came off the bench to score his first goal in 10 games, a spell going back more than two months, and he admits his goal drought was getting to him.

He said: "I'm one of those that gets worried when I go without scoring for a while.

"It has been at the back of my mind, but as the team has been winning I have not been so concerned. The longer you go without scoring, the more it plays on your mind so I was delighted to get a goal, even though we lost."

It has not been for the lack of effort that Miller has gone without a goal, and it was his old mate and provider Pablo Counago who set him up for his seventh of the season.

"It was just my luck last week when I went off and then we got a penalty, but I was pleased for Darren (Currie) to score from it.

"I've got a reputation for scoring, and even though family and friends have been saying not to worry I have been. I have been close, hitting the woodwork, the keeper making great saves, so I have been getting in there, but Pablo has done ever so well and put it on a plate for me and I have put it in the bottom corner."

Miller and Counago went on as 58th minute substitutes but the game immediately swung Bolton's way with three goals in nine minutes for the Trotters before Miller hit the consolation.

He said: "We came on and next thing we know we are three down and we were looking at each other thinking we have changed the game, not for us though, for them.

"I have enjoyed playing with Pablo since I first got to the club and I wish I could have put one on a plate for him as well, because I know how much he needs a goal."

With Ian Westlake suspended for the Coventry City game on Saturday, Miller is expected to be back in the starting line-up, and while he understood the manager's decision to rest him, he didn't particularly enjoy being left out.

Miller said: "I knew on Friday that I was going to be rested as I'm the only midfielder who has played in virtually every game.

"No-one likes to miss games but hopefully I will be back in the side for the league game against Coventry, which is more important."

Fellow substitute Counago was making his first appearance since coming off the bench to play at Sunderland in November. The Spaniard looked hungry and sharp as part of a three-man attack.

Although he is available for free, with the transfer window open this month, Counago is in no hurry to leave.

He confirmed: "It feels good to be back playing in the team.

"All I can do is wait for my chance and then when it comes work as hard as I can for the team.

"Nothing has changed for me, I still want to stay at Ipswich and help us all get back into the Premiership."