Midfielder Owen Garvan is back at Town, has denied walking out on the club and says he is happy. The Irishman was widely rumoured to have returned to Dublin a fortnight ago vowing to give up football.

However, the 19-year-old was back in Ipswich over the weekend ahead of today's trip to Loughborough University and says he is fine: “I'm very happy to be back in training and I'm very much looking forward to joining the lads as we step up our training at Loughborough this week.”

Sunday's tabloid report claiming Garvan's absence was related to him wanting a move away from Portman Road has led to Manchester City, Fulham and Everton being linked in Monday's newspapers. Garvan is contracted to the Blues until 2009.

Town will spend the week at Loughborough and while in the Midlands will play friendlies at Burton Albion (Tuesday) and Kettering Town (Thursday).

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