New signing Gary Roberts has completed his three-month loan deal in time to be added to the squad for tonight's home game with Preston North End. Roberts, 22, joins with a view to a permanent switch when the transfer window reopens in January.

The former Liverpool youngster says the move came as a complete surprise: "I trained with Accrington on the Monday and then went home and was half asleep when my agent rang and told me to pack my gear and that I was going to Ipswich.

"It's a fantastic opportunity for me and obviously I want to impress the manager enough to hopefully win a permanent contract. That's my aim.

"I've had my ups and downs over the last five years and you do get knocked down in this game.

"Some players stay down but I'm a strong character and I picked myself up and gave it another go, and now Ipswich have given me a fantastic opportunity to show I can play at a high level.

"The gaffer was showing me around the place and I was openmouthed, looking at the stadium and the training ground.

"Ipswich is a Premiership club in the wrong division and it's up to me to show that I'm worth keeping here."

Although primarily a left winger, this season Roberts has been pushed into a forward role in which he has scored most of his eight goals. A number of Championship clubs including Barnsley and Burnley have been keeping an eye on the former Crewe Alexandra, Bangor City, Rhyl and Welshpool Town man and League One side Yeovil Town made unsuccessful bids of £20,000 and £50,000 in the summer.

Roberts was named in this week's League Two Team of the Week after scoring at Torquay and was also nominated for the division's Player of the Month award for September.

Despite winning caps for the England National Game XI last season, Roberts qualifies for Wales via his grandmother and his move to Town could lead to him being called into John Toshack's squad.

Roberts, 5ft 8in tall, has been handed Ian Westlake's old number 33 shirt.

Revised squad: Barron, Bowditch, Brittain, Bruce, Clarke, Currie, De Vos, Harding, Lee, Legwinski, Macken, Miller, Naylor, Noble, Peters, Price, Richards, Roberts, Sito, Supple, Walton and Wilnis.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls