Town boss Paul Jewell says midfielder Jimmy Bullard will be “straining at the leash” after his two-week club suspension for his night out in Newcastle with Michael Chopra and his subsequent late arrival at training. The 33-year-old will be reunited with the rest of the squad at Playford Road today.

Jewell said: “He rang me on Tuesday night. He’s really upset about what happened. He accepts full responsibility for his actions and I said to him to come in on Friday. I’ve dealt with it, I’m not going to keep on harping on about it.

“We’ve all made mistakes, he’s been punished, Michael Chopra’s been punished in a different way, but in a way I thought would hurt him more than Jimmy.

“I know that Jimmy has been straining at the leash and anyone who knows Jimmy, and I know him as well as most, knows that he loves playing football, loves company and that the worst thing you can do is put him in a room on his own.

“He’s the only player in the group who doesn’t want to room on his own on away trips. Nobody else wants to.”

Since his exile, Jewell says Bullard has kept in regular contact with his team-mates - “He’s been on the phone to everybody I think” — which doesn’t surprise him: “He loves company, Jimmy, and he loves banter and that’s why I’m amazed he’s a fisherman. I don’t know quite where he gets that from.

“He will have been hurt and hopefully he’s learnt from his mistake that it’s not acceptable. He was completely understanding of my actions and he has no argument and he comes in on Friday.

“I think he’s realised he’s let himself and his team-mates down but I don’t want him to wear sackcloth and ashes because it’s been dealt with.

“It’s no good holding grudges, we’ve had our fall-outs, he’s made a mistake and he’s been dealt with. He’s not the first player and he definitely won’t be the last player, but hopefully it’s the last time Jimmy does that.

“That’s all we’re asking. Give him a chance, he’s got a chance and if he doesn’t take it, he doesn’t take it, but he’s a good footballer and he’s still got plenty to offer.”

Although Bullard won’t be involved against Peterborough on Saturday, Jewell doesn’t expect his fortnight's absence to have adversely affected him too much: “He’ll be fit anyway. He’ll have been training, he’ll have been doing something. He won’t have been on a beach somewhere, I can tell you that.”

Photo: Action Images

beerhelps added 09:08 - Mar 16 I hope he's not the new Pablo.....bags of talant which is too rarely seen, therefore a waste of a big wage. Come on Jimmy, don't disapoint.
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roytheboy added 09:22 - Mar 16 I always like to see Jimmy out there playing, however I accept that he has to compete for his team place again, when he is at his best he is inspirational and makes things happen, similar in that respect to Lee Martin.
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Daleyitfc added 09:31 - Mar 16 Tripe. As long as he collects his inflated salary, he'll be happy. Waste of space.
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yun added 09:40 - Mar 16 More likely to be straining to go on the lash. Again.
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saffronblue added 09:43 - Mar 16 yun, made me laugh, thanks.
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brian_a_mul added 09:50 - Mar 16 Competition for places is a wonderful motivator. I hope Jimmy can break in to this team, to do it he will have to play too his top level. If he plays to his top level we can expect some cracking performances! Martin has been exceptional and JET has shown he can perform. In fact everyone seems to have upped their game since christmas. Long may it continue!
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hairbear added 09:52 - Mar 16 Bullard in for leadboots. At least he wants to play for us & is the most creative player we have. Lack of form earlier on in the season was down to our beloved manager making him play as the holding midfielder. PJ out!
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JackITFC96 added 10:22 - Mar 16 We need bullard, he wants to play, you were all licking his arse last season give him some respect he is a hero, behind lee martin he can be our best midfielder.
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Surco72 added 10:23 - Mar 16 Agree with hairbear ,Bullard will definately be here next season and is our best creative player and has not had the opportunity to play alongside the energy of Drury and Hyam with Jet and Murphy tracking back .Offers far more than Leadbitter has shown last game aside and wants to be here unlike Grant
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fifeblue added 10:57 - Mar 16 Get rid. Waste of money.
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bigolconnor added 11:11 - Mar 16 I like him. Very much. Funny pony.
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dreblue added 11:38 - Mar 16 Surco72 - completely agree that he can be a great player and he is def as most creative player. Just look at how much he ran the show in the midfield last season. However, ur suggestion of him playing alongside drury and Hyam means that Martin would be dropped which for me he has been our best player recently. I'm really enjoying the competition for places ATMm shame that's only in the CM position!!

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village_blue added 12:21 - Mar 16 Get shot of both Bullard and Leadbitter asap as there wages can be put towards someone who really wants to play for us.
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DiamondGezzer added 12:45 - Mar 16 I really hope he pulls his socks up. Undoubted talent that we need to see on the pitch.
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Garv added 13:07 - Mar 16 The fact is no one on this board knows Jimmy Bullard, when we all pretend we do. We see what happens on the outside and condemn him. If he's buzzing as Jewell says to get back to training and playing then I'm happy.
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yun added 13:16 - Mar 16 @saffronblue - a cheap shot, but I could not resist. Glad you enjoyed. @Garv - I don't know Jimmy Bullard, but he does seem to have disappeared a bit of late, and the Newcastle shenanigans certainly don't help. Let's hope you're right and he just needs a run of games to get his form back. Would be a delight to see the full range of his talents lighting up the final run-in.

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sereneblue added 14:28 - Mar 16 "He's let himself down and his teammates".More importantly what about the fans,the forgotten majority !!!!
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jas0999 added 14:33 - Mar 16 Bullard does NOT care about us - only his massive wages. Everyone warned us this would be the case. Hope we get shot - but no one will want him. Perhaps yet another PJ signing who we will have to pay off?
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SHUblue added 14:47 - Mar 16 Dear jas0999, go and support norwich as your loyalties clearly aren't with ipswich, otherwise you wouldn't keep having a go at Paul Jewell all the time...pretty much every single supporter wanted Bullard at the end of last season...Paul Jewell isn't to blame for everything...as soon as something bad happens it's suddenly Jewell's fault, but when things are going well in terms of results (like over the last few weeks) you don't mention him...not one of your comments have had a positive reflection of Jewell... RANT OVER

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Surco72 added 15:15 - Mar 16 dreblue ... i meant only one of Drury or Hyam ,definately dont want Martin dropped .But agree the fight for places can only be good for the team and whoever hits a bad run Martin,Bullard,Drury can all interchange positions ,or Martin can go wide to replace Jet,Murphy ,Carson .All looking alot brighter in my view than the last few seasons
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slowerball added 15:28 - Mar 16 Well, he will go into these dodgy nightclubs in Newcastle where the gentleman's entertainment can be a tad on the saucy side... or, I see what he means.
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Garv added 17:13 - Mar 16 We've paid off one Jewell signing Jas, the other two were Keane signings. And why should we have to pay off Bullard (not that we could)? He committed a bit of a misdemeanor, that he's been punished for, and he's not been as much of a disaster on the pitch that Ingimarsson was. We have him for another year, Jimmy Bullard can still contribute to this team.
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rexron added 08:59 - Mar 17 Bullard needs a haircut. Should be left out of the squad for a while. He needs to think about what he want to do with his career. If he can come back next season as a new player/personality so be it.
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