Jamie Clapham has said that he wants to stay at Portman Road and fight for his place. There have been rumours for a while that Clapham is unhappy at the club and reports yesterday claimed interest in him from Southampton and Middlesbrough. TWTD has also heard that there may be a First Division club looking at the former Spurs player.

However, Jamie himself says he is looking to further his Town career: "I just want to be playing football. I want to be playing at the highest possible level and you don't get much higher than playing in European competition as I did last month, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Of course it is disappointing when you are not playing or starting games but all I can do is play well and get the manager to notice me and want to play me. There are a lot of players here so competition is very fierce for places."

Clapham says he knows nothing about any club being interested in him: "I know nothing about this. No-one has contacted me or my agent about any sort of move."

However, as an experienced player currently out of favour it is inevitable that clubs may look to him as a possible signing. We don't expect this to be the last we hear about it.

Ex-Norwich keeper Andy Marshall has vowed to make the number one shirt his own after recovering from his back injury. Marshall played his first game at Portman Road on Wednesday as the reserves beat West Ham 3-2.

Marshall said: "There is a good standard throughout the squad with two or three people challenging for each position. In a way it is harder for a keeper to dislodge someone and in fairness Matteo has done very well."

He knows he has a job on his hands to get hold of the shirt: "I knew it wasn't going to be easy when I came here whether Matteo came here or not. Now he is here it makes it that bit harder."

As expected George Burley will play a weakened side in next week's Worthington Cup match with Crewe. With several players on the fringes not having had much of a chance this season the Crewe game should give Burley a chance to check them out in match action.

It also gives him an opportunity to rest a number of his players, especially the internationals who have a game this weekend. That includes Matt Holland, Hermann Hreidarsson, Finidi George and Jim Magilton.

Burley said: "We took the opportunity last season to use one or two players who were not regulars and we will look at that again. We still got to the semi-finals and the competition is still very important to us. We have a good squad of players and we need to look at one or two at first team level although I have not got a team in mind as yet."

The likes of Tommy Miller, Thomas Gaardsøe, Pablo Couñago and maybe Darren Bent could make an appearance at Gresty Road.

Town have postponed another reserve match due to their European commitments. The match with Derby scheduled for October 30th will now be re-arranged.

Earlier in the week the match with Nottingham Forest was moved from October 17th.

Town's Academy sides play West Ham this Saturday. The U17s are at home (Bent Lane KO 11am) while the U19s are away.

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