Left-back Aaron Cresswell says he’d be delighted to be part of the British squad at the London Olympics next summer. Yesterday, the club revealed that the 21-year-old is set to be offered new terms at Portman Road.
Britain will field what’s likely to be an all English U23 side — plus three overage players — at the tournament with current England U21 coach Stuart Pearce in charge.
Cresswell, who is too old to play for the England U21s, says he would be interested in playing if the call came: "I haven’t had any contact with Stuart Pearce but it is a massive honour to play for your country and I would love to be part of the Olympic squad. I just have to keep doing my best for Ipswich — that is my main target.”
The suggestion is unlikely to please manager Paul Jewell with the Olympic football tournament taking place through the end of pre-season, although the beginning of the 2012/13 campaign proper has been delayed until Saturday 18th August.
Town defender Tommy Smith may also be involved with New Zealand, although with his Blues contract up in the summer, he could be with another club by then. Ex-Blues striker Connor Wickham is another potential member of the British squad.
Cresswell, who signed a three-year deal when he joined as a free agent from Tranmere in the summer, says he’s delighted with how the early months of his time at Town have progressed: "When I first came here, the main thing was to try and work my way into the team and I have done that.
"I thought it would be a massive step but I have just taken each game as it comes. I didn’t expect a new deal or anything, I’m just pleased the season is going well for me and the team.”
A tribunal recently set the compensation due to Tranmere for the Liverpool-born full-back at an initial £240,000 rising to £520,000 after various milestone clauses.