George Burley has praised Italian keeper Matteo Sereni for the way he took being dropped at the weekend. The Town manager feels the Italian is suffering a bit after a tough first half of the season.

Burley said: "Matteo Sereni has done exceptionally well for us but as I explained last week he has felt the mental strain resulting from the pressures of the first half of the season. Foreign players take time to settle into the English game. Goalkeepers are no exception. No one at Portman Road is guaranteed a first team place all of the time. It is very much a squad game. Matteo took the decision to rest him for the Tottenham game very well, very professionally. There are times when a player needs a break from playing week-in, week-out."

Burley also says that Marcus Bent has a great future ahead of him: "Marcus Bent has all the attributes. There is no doubt in my mind that he can develop into a top Premiership striker. He is only 23 but has already added things to his game in the time he has been with us. There are still areas on which he must keep working hard, but hopefully his progress will continue."

The Town boss described Saturday's game against managerless Derby as "a real 'six-pointer' and says he has told Fabian Wilnis that he will inform him of any offers which come in. He added that he hoped Richard Wright's decision to join Arsenal would eventually prove to be the right one. Wright has been out of the Arsenal side of late and his place in this summer's World Cup squad looks very much in question.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls