Town manager Paul Jewell has paid tribute to striker Jason Scotland’s attitude in the wake of the Trinidadian’s retirement from international football. The Blues boss has been delighted with the 32-year-old’s attitude since pre-season.

Joking about Scotland’s decision to give up international football, Jewell said: “Last year I thought he’d announced his domestic retirement!

“He’s been superb Jason. I actually thought he’d retired [from international football] anyway. He’s come back in good shape, he’s lost a lot of weight, lost a lot of body fat and he’s been one of our main players, he’s been terrific.

“Not just when he’s in the team but when he’s been out of the team. He hasn’t sulked, he’s had a positive effect on players, he’s very loud round the training ground and he’s good to have.

“I think last year he found it difficult, as a lot of us did, for whatever reason. This year, he’s in the final year of his contract, he knows he’s at a big club, he’s knuckled down and I can’t speak highly enough of him and I hope he continues to play like that.”

The Blues manager says that ideally the rest of his squad would follow Scotland’s lead: “I’d quite like all our players to retire from international football, to be honest with you! The international break is a tough time for managers because you don’t know how players are going to come back.

“Jason Scotland deserves a big pat on the back but we’ll keep on pushing him. He’s been terrific for us.”

Photo: Action Images

howdonblue added 08:33 - Sep 30 Scotty has been a model pro . Not once did we hear him moan whilst he was out of the team!!! Now he is back in it long may he stay in it.. I for one have never doubted his ability to score , I mean he scored 10 goals last season in one of the worst if not the worst team we have ever had. Pros in on the other hand couldn't lace his boots!!!
0

suffolkpoker added 08:35 - Sep 30 Im amazed he has turned it around so quickly, from last season i didnt even expect him to still be here. Well played Mr Scotland
0

KenDubZ added 08:37 - Sep 30 Scotland you are the biggest gezzer :D you remind me of Pablo with that heart and he was a legend here :) hopefully you renew your contract, good on ya son and keep playing well :) COYB
0

dirtydingusmagee added 08:43 - Sep 30 good to see him getting the credit, i hope now he holds his place and stays at Town ,he has been a worker not a shirker, i think things are begining to happen in team now ,and a positive player on and off the pitch, as with Jimmy Bullard can lift teams confidence .Taxi for Priskin . COYB .
0

tractorboybig added 08:45 - Sep 30 Has not been my cup of tea, but give credit where due, has earnt his starting position.
0

irishtim added 08:52 - Sep 30 well done jason sign him up new one year contract with option of a second year
0

Bluecynic added 08:55 - Sep 30 He showed a glimpse of what was to come in the Preston match in April-played a real blinder.
0

saffronblue added 09:20 - Sep 30 PJ, reward him with a new contract please
0

pitseablue added 09:22 - Sep 30 Think he had a hard time as a lone striker. Looks a very different player this season, keep it up Jason.
0

Superfrans added 09:25 - Sep 30 Wish we'd had a few more years of Scottie - bet he wishes PJ had been in his career earlier too. He's really bringing the best out of him. Sadly, he'll be 32 by the start of next season. Can't see him still being with us.
0

poggie added 09:29 - Sep 30 Well played Jason, we knew you had it in you!!
0

arablue added 09:49 - Sep 30 Well done Jason. Frankly I was one of the sceptics, but glad you are proving me wrong. Still plenty of games to play for, so now go get your 20 goals for this season!
0

brogansnose added 10:05 - Sep 30 The bloke has been fantastic because lets face it he could have just taken it easy and watched his retirement pot get larger. Was wasted last year with tactics that didnt suit him, or others at all, and is deadly given a sniff of goal.
0

roytheboy added 10:58 - Sep 30 Jason has become a top man in my book, I love the way he eyes the goal then hits the ball using his full power, he always looks a threat in front of goal now.
0

Mr_Evans added 11:08 - Sep 30 Maybe Tevez should take a look at him!! Very polite guy, seen him around town a few times and always has a smile on his face and willing to banter with the fans. Has been deadly this season! Has got a lethal right foot on him and holds the ball well.
0

mpk1111 added 11:11 - Sep 30 He has done well the last couple of games...but let's be realistic he is just trying harder and getting fitter because he wants a fat contract somewhere at the end of the season when he can go on a free. Why was he so out of shape beforehand? I thought it was his job to be slim, fit and enthusiastic?
0

bigfatjoe87 added 11:29 - Sep 30 loving scotland rightt well justifies getting on the back of me jersey keep it up lad
0

Garv added 12:19 - Sep 30 Lethal left foot n all Mr Evans!
0

cobbold_fanatic added 12:22 - Sep 30 I liked Scotland last season just thought we didn't play to his strengths but it seems there aren't many who share my view...
0

sonian_blue added 13:32 - Sep 30 Cobbold_fanatic, I am in your corner. Always believed he is our best finisher but he is not a lone front man. Play to his strenghts (the basis he was bought on) and he will score. Respect JS, and get us another tomorrow.
0

Marcus added 14:27 - Sep 30 @mpk1111 - perhaps you're right. But perhaps it's because he wants to stay and earn a new contract? No need to only think of the negatives. If he does well enough and the rest of the team rise to the season then we're looking at promotion anyway and at that point the questions change to whether we still need the players who are running out of contract. Still I hope all of the contract talks are resolved before Christmas this season, as PJ said it's very unprofessional to drag out the talks too long.

0

Lightningboy added 18:59 - Sep 30 Scotland's attitude has certainly put that scumbag Tevez to shame.
0

jas0999 added 19:22 - Sep 30 PJ was to blame for playing Jason as a very isolated striker. Thankfully he has now learnt his lesson (finally!) and we are reaping the rewards. Scotland WILL score goals in a 4-4-2.
0

tomisamos added 12:44 - Oct 1 mkp, too much 'realism' not enough support, give him some credit. It's amazing what a decent strike partner and a confidence boost can do for a player's form (and probably the fact that the fans don't all sigh and moan at him now whenever he does something wrong) Also, Scotland was played as a loan striker by Keane first, if anything Jewell has changed that.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls