THE luck of the Irish has deserted Michael Synnott up until now but that could all be about to change for the young Dubliner.Blues boss Jim Magilton is ready to hand the 20-year-old defender another year's contract at Portman Road after the former Academy star showed courage in fighting back from a string of injuries.

By Derek Davis

THE luck of the Irish has deserted Michael Synnott up until now but that could all be about to change for the young Dubliner.

Blues boss Jim Magilton is ready to hand the 20-year-old defender another year's contract at Portman Road after the former Academy star showed courage in fighting back from a string of injuries.

Synnott, who was recently capped at Under 21 level for the Republic of Ireland along with Billy Clarke, has spent long periods on the sidelines with separate knee and ankle injuries since helping the Blues to win the FA Youth Cup in 2005.

But he has battled back to impress in the reserves watched closely by Magilton and after concerns that he would be released in the summer, has earned a new deal.

Magilton said: “He is the sort of character we want at the club. He needs an injury free season where we could get him out on loan after a good pre-season. That would give us an opportunity to see him step up.”

The burly defender came to Ipswich along from the famous Home Farm club in Dublin that also spawned Shane Supple and Billy Clarke, and more recently Paul Murphy who is among the new intake of scholars at Portman Road.

Synnott was renowned in Ireland for his storming runs from the back and even though he is less than six foot tall, is regarded as a centre half by Magilton and not a full back where he often played in the academy.

Magilton said: “Some people give me dog's abuse for playing him there but he always does well at centre half. I understand where people are coming from about his size but you try telling the likes of Canavaro they are too small.

“Michael is competitive, he is a good talker, is an organiser and I have not seen him have a bad game at centre half.”

Synnott is likely to pick up a reserve league winners medal with the Blues this year and is expected to anchor the defence in the Suffolk Premier Cup final against Leiston, on April 17.