LEWIS Price is determined to repay boss Jim Magilton for keeping faith with him - and helping the keeper regain his place in the Wales squad.Price dropped a clanger at St Andrews for City to score and was relieved to keep his place for the 3-1 win over Sunderland, knowing full well that Shane Supple was waiting in the wings.

By Derek Davis

LEWIS Price is determined to repay boss Jim Magilton for keeping faith with him - and helping the keeper regain his place in the Wales squad.

Price dropped a clanger at St Andrews for City to score and was relieved to keep his place for the 3-1 win over Sunderland, knowing full well that Shane Supple was waiting in the wings.

Price said: “That was lovely. What I really wanted to do after that game was put it right and play. It is hard to correct something if you are out the team but he kept me in for Sunderland and that gives me the chance to put that mistake behind me and go forward.

“I know pretty much that a bad game or another big mistake and Shane is back in. It is by no means my shirt and the gaffer would change it if he felt it right. But he kept me in the side and that was a great boost for me.”

The 22-year-old keeper is looking to produce another top-notch performance at Layer Road this evening and is not expecting a quiet night.

He said: “We have had a good run of results and our confidence is high but we must not get carried away. We have to focus on every game and we know the Colchester match is going to be extremely tough.

“More so than many people are probably thinking, because I feel that Colchester are a better side than some realise.

“It is a tiny ground and we have to quieten their crowd and then take over from there.

“It was my first actual game for the first-team when I played in a friendly so I know what it is like to play at Layer Road. Also, being on loan at Cambridge gives me an appreciation of what the smaller grounds and changing rooms are like. It may come as a culture shock for some of our players but they will cope.”

The keeper's form has caught the eye of Welsh boss John Toshack, who has called Price into the senior squad for their European Championship qualifiers at home to Slovakia and Cyprus in the next fortnight.

Price said: “Getting back in the Welsh squad is just fantastic. I have had a run of decent games for Ipswich and John Toshack always said if I was back starting for my club he would bring me back in and he has been as good as his word.

“Both games are at home so we have to be looking to pick up points, especially after losing in the Czech Republic. That was a gut-wrenching loss because they scored so late in the game after it looked like we had done enough for at least a draw.”

The Cyprus game at the Millennium Stadium will especially poignant for Price, who made his debut against the Mediterranean side and was the only Welshman that night that played with any distinction.

But he knows it will be difficult to dislodge experienced Paul Jones, who has the No.1 shirt at the moment.

Price said: “Cyprus were really up for it and the gaffer was experimenting. It didn't gel for us in that game although I did okay. I expect it will be a different result on Wednesday.

“Paul played really well against the Czech Republic and has been doing well for QPR. I'm just happy to be back involved and be able to prepare for the European qualifiers, while ready to take my chance if it comes.”