JON Walters admits he expects the whole speculation about his future to rear up again ahead of the January transfer window.But last season's player of the year will be happy enough because if it does it is because it means he is once again playing well for the Blues.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

JON Walters admits he expects the whole speculation about his future to rear up again ahead of the January transfer window.

But last season's player of the year will be happy enough because if it does it is because it means he is once again playing well for the Blues.

Walters missed most of the training over the past two weeks after being struck down with a virus but is keen to get back on track today against Reading.

The forward's player-of-the-year performances and Premiership pedigree made him an obvious top flight target and while Walters has tried to avoid all the summer rumours about his he knows it is inevitable Town players will be earmarked.

Walters said: “Maybe people saw last year how I was playing and focused on that. It started in January really and of course when I went home for a couple of weeks for the baby then that started it all off again.

“I suppose doing so well I was going to be linked with Premier League clubs but the manager here has plenty of players that are good enough. When we get promoted he is not going to go out and get in another 11 players because they one here are already Premier League quality.”

Walters acknowledges many things go on in the background but was grateful his representatives dealt with the issues.

He said: “I have been busy enough with a new baby to worry about it too much.

“The agents may have been getting involved in all that but they keep it away from me so it doesn't get into my head. They deal with that side f it.

“I may have to go through it all again but that will only be if I'm doing well again here. We have to start doing well here before anyone looks at us.

“Of course I want to be in the Premier League but I'm with Ipswich now and I have to work hard for Ipswich and that is what I'm doing - just focusing on that.”

With the window closed at the beginning of September it would have been an ideal time to focus just on playing but another bout of illness laid him low.

Walters said: “I was ill which was not ideal. I was all bunged up with a blocked nose and sore throat. Quite a lot of the lads had it but it was better to have it then during the break.”

That apart, Walters knows that Town now need to turn things around after a poor start.

He said: “We have to look at it being a whole new beginning as it has not been the best of starts. It is where you finish that you are ultimately judged on.

“If we can put a run together of five or six games we will be right back up there. It was inconsistency that cost us in the end last year and we have to put that right this year.”

Despite his illness Walters is expected to star this afternoon against Reading.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk