As expected Town have learnt that the video panel feel Matteo Sereni's red card against Leicester should be rescinded. George Burley was informed last night that the video panel had disagreed with Barry Knight's linesman's decision which was made from 60 yards away from the action.

Burley said: "Mr Knight will be informed and we are hoping that e will now overturn his decision and either change the red card to a yellow or decide no further action is necessary. Whatever we are hoping Matteo will be available to play against Manchester United on Saturday which is good news."

Sereni himself is hoping that good form with Town and a run in the UEFA Cup might bring him to the attention of his national side. The Italian has played for the U21s back in Italy but is yet to be capped at full level. He said: "It is important to me to be playing in the UEFA Cup. It is a high profile competition and there are world class players competing in it and there are people from all over the world watching. Playing in the Premiership will help me, because it is such high profile that people will be able to se what I'm doing."

Sereni, a powerful character in the dressing room of according to early reports, says his price was set too high for him to be sold to another Italian team: "In Italy I was a big keeper without a big team. My price was set very high to be sold to another Italian team. In Italy it is easy to buy young keepers but for established keepers like me the price is a lot higher."

And he feels he will stay at Town long-term: "I'm not just here for the short-term, I'm here for at least four years and already I like the area. I like the people for their passion for their football and their friendliness. They are lovely people here who are very good to me. Ipswich, and the stadium especially, is similar to Sampdoria. There are a lot of people cheering us on and I throve by playing on front of big audiences."

Torpedo Moscow manager says he pities Town for having to play Manchester United just two days after meeting his team. Vitali Shevchenko is amazed that two games of such importance should be allowed to go ahead with such a small gap between them.

Shevchenko said: "It will be very difficult to play with only one day's rest after a game."

He has watched Town on tape a couple of times and has been impressed: "Ipswich are a very good team. In the two games I saw I felt they should have won against Leicester and again against Blackburn."

Torpedo, who are to claim compensation from UEFA after their wasted journey last week, trained on the Portman Road pitch last night. This is their second seccessive European season, last year they were beaten by Lausanne Sports.

Tonight's reeree is Ohan Erdemir from Turkey.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls