Striker Dean Bowditch has admitted that he thought his time with the Blues was at an end when his contract was up in June. Instead, the former England U19 international, who will be in action in tonight's pre-season friendly at Bury Town, has signed a new one-year deal.

Bowditch told the club site: "With my contract up last season and me not being in the first team, I did start to think that maybe my days were coming to an end at this club.

"I have had problems with injuries and I don't think I dealt with them very well mentally, but it is hard when you start playing again and then you get injured again.

"I was back fit again towards the end of last season though, and scored a few goals in the reserves and that gave me a lift.”

Bowditch says boss Jim Magilton has backed him to finally show his undoubted potential: "The gaffer spoke to me in the summer and said he believed in me but I need to show more belief in myself. He said that I prove it in training every day that I can play at this level but that I need to show it out on the pitch.”

The 22-year-old is determined to take what will be his last chance to shine with the Blues: "I need to get back to playing without a care in the world like I did when I was younger and playing my best football. That's what the manager wants.

"I've worked hard through the summer and I know this is a massive season for me. It's all or nothing and I've got to give it everything.

"It's unfinished business for me. I've got things to prove to the manager, to the staff, to the fans, but mainly to myself that I can be a success at Championship level.

"The gaffer has made me feel wanted when maybe I was expecting my time to be up. I know if things don't work for me here this year, then that will probably be it for me at Ipswich, but the gaffer has given me another chance and I'm going to do everything I can to repay him."

Meanwhile, Kevin Phillips, a player the Blues are believed to have been monitoring, has joined Birmingham City on a free transfer from West Brom. The Baggies were unwilling to offer Phillips the two-year deal that he has signed at St Andrew's.

Elsewhere, Cardiff City have confirmed they are interested in signing former Blue Marcus Bent from Charlton. Bent spent last season on loan at Wigan but was not offered a permanent stay at the JJB Stadium.

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