TOMMY Miller admits to still being in the dark about his future as time ticks away for him and the team this season.Miller is one of 12 players who don't know what their future holds in the summer as they are out of contract at Ipswich Town.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

TOMMY Miller admits to still being in the dark about his future as time ticks away for him and the team this season.

Miller is one of 12 players who don't know what their future holds in the summer as they are out of contract at Ipswich Town.

Only Alex Bruce has been offered anything and he has rejected that deal.

Miller, brought back to the club for a third time, moved his family down from his native Sunderland and even though he has been playing regularly in midfield has not be spoken to by manager Jim Magilton about his future. Miller said: “I haven't heard a thing. “I'm just playing my football. If contract talks happen then they happen, if not then so be it. I'm happy to be in the team at the minute. Nothing's been said

"As a family man it is a concern. I would be lying if I said it wasn't. Obviously I've got kids, they're at nursery and they're quite settled.

“My wife's down here but like I say that's football, you move about but I'd love to stay here. Obviously I'd love the club to start talking. If not, so be it, I've got to look elsewhere and we'll see."

Like Bruce, Shane Supple, Moritz Volz, Iv�n Campo, Billy Clarke, Matt Richards, Liam Trotter, Dean Bowditch, Chris Casement, Ed Upson, and Jai Reason, Miller accepts he may have to leave in the summer, although he would prefer to stay.

He said: “I would like to have spoken to someone or someone come to me before now and said something about contracts. They haven't so I'm just sort of waiting and seeing what happens.

“I'm happy here. I'm in the team and I'm quite happy so hopefully something will happen."

Miller has started the past 10 games and admits he is still getting used to the deep midfield role.

He said: “I've got to organise a bit better. I've maybes been a bit too deep but I've been enjoying my football. I'm getting on the ball a bit more rather than before when I was just running into the box and getting goals the last time.

“That was a key element of my game. At the minute I'm getting the ball off the defence and passing it a bit more. Obviously I need to get a few more goals though.”

With Alan Quinn and David Norris suspended it is likely Owen Garvan will partner Miller in central midfield with Danny Haynes being recalled with perhaps Luciano Civelli getting a run out late on.

Miller said: “It opens the door for a few of the younger lads to take their chance. We know what they're capable of and it's going to be a big weekend for them and for us as well."

Miller accepts Town's home form has been poor and they need to impose more to get the crowd going.

He said: “Going back to the last home game, Plymouth, in the first half an hour we had plenty of chances.

“It's important we get the first goal to settle everyone down. Last season was unbelievable at home, this season up and down. We need to get that going and obviously keep the away form going."

“The crowd reaction can get to a few of the lads but you've got to overcome that and expect that. They pay their money and they're entitled to their opinion. They want to see good football out there but they want to see results as well so that's what we've got to try to deliver for them."

Miller also believes the relatively plush surrounding can inspire the opposition.

He said: “They probably come, and this is no disrespect to them, they maybe haven't got the stadium or the pitch...they come here and see a lovely pitch, nice ground and maybe up their game and maybe put it on a bit more."

“After losing 3-0 at Swansea and slipping back to 11th place, seven points off the top six, Miller knows Town need maximum points against Blackpool and Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

He said: “It is going to be a big week. We've slipped off the pace a little bit, we're seven points behind but it's reachable, there's a lot of games left and there are a lot of teams who're probably saying the same thing that they can get in the play-offs, and we're one of them

“There are two home games coming up so it's a big week and if you can get maximum points you're back in the picture."

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk