New loan signing David Stockdale says he’s thinking about playing games for the Blues rather than winning a recall into Fabio Capello’s England squad. The 25-year-old, who has joined Town from Fulham on loan for the season, was called into two squads earlier in the year but is yet to make his full international bow.
Stockdale said: "It’s not something I’m looking directly at because you’ve got to play games first and do well, although I know I got picked while I was on the bench when I was at Fulham.
"It’s nice to know that you’re in the gaffer’s thinking and hopefully I can get Ipswich Town and Fulham’s names in the England squad.”
The former York and Darlington man says he’s looking to progress his game while with the Blues: "Everyone can improve. Nobody’s the finished article. Mark Schwarzer works so hard and he’s nearly 40. I wouldn’t say that anyone’s the finished article.
"I know that and it’s important to know that as a player and to keep on working with your goalkeeping coach and your gaffer.”
It was Stockdale who instigated his switch due to his desire to play first team football: "I’ve been knocking Martin Jol’s door down a bit this season and he totally understands that I want to play regular games.
"We’ve got Mark Schwarzer, who is a world class goalkeeper, there and you’ve got to make your feelings known that you’re not happy sitting on the bench and you want to further your career by coming to a big club like this and hopefully, fingers crossed, getting them promoted.”
The Leeds-born keeper says his defenders in particular will get used to hearing his voice as he settles into the squad: "It’s not just on the pitch, it’s off the pitch, knowing your players, knowing how to communicate. The lads are a great bunch, so hopefully I’ll fit in quite well.
"Can you tell from my voice from Tuesday night? I’m losing it a bit because I haven’t played very much. Not as much off the pitch, but on the pitch I like to have a good rant and rave!”
Meanwhile, Colchester midfielder Andy Bond is out of hospital having escaped Tuesday’s collision with team-mate Mark Cousins without suffering a fractured cheekbone as had been feared.
No decision has yet been made on when the former Barrow man will return to training but he is expected to miss the U’s final pre-season game against Watford on Saturday.