Town keeper Matteo Sereni has revealed he asked to be rested for Town's FA Cup third round match with Dagenham and Redbridge. However, the Italian now regrets his decision after Andy Marshall took his chance and was retained for last weekend's clash with Spurs.

Sereni said: "I was very tired after playing four games in 10 days and, with respect to Dagenham, it was not such a big game and so I asked the Gaffer to be rested. I now realise that was a big mistake. I thought that to ask for a rest was normal but it is not in England."

Sereni says that English sides play a lot more games than their Italian counterparts, hence him feeling he needed a rest, something he won't be asking for again: "I have learnt and if I'm tired again I won't be asking for a rest - I would play with a broken leg."

While he is out he is training hard, but says he prefers to play on a Saturday as it makes him "feel powerful."

At the beginning of the season Sereni was the hailed as the player of the season, however more recently some fans have questioned the way he commands his area, something the keeper diagrees with: "After some games I'm hoarse. But I don't just shout for the sake of it. I will say just a few words here and there to the defence when the opposition are on the attack. It is pointless trying to shout above the crowd when our team are in the other half and sometimes if you talk too much you will confuse your team-mates and it doesn't help. As for coming for the ball I always come for corsses and corners. You can't stay on your line but nor can you go to the edge of your area. In Italy I come off my line more because the style of football there is tighter and slower but in England it is more open. It is a beuatiful way of playing but you cannot come too far from your line here."

Sereni points to Gus Poyet's attempt to beat Andy Marshall with a chip from distance last weekend. He says he has been working on that area of his game with Town goalkeeping coach Malcolm Webster recently.

The stories emanating in Italy regarding Sereni's £2.4 million 'pay-off' from Sampdoria and a perceived lack of desire to join Town has received criticism from some supporters, however the keeper says he is fully committed to the Blues, even taking a pay-cut to come to Portman Road: "I want to apologise to the chairman, the Gaffer, and the supporters of Ipswich Town if they got that impression. I wanted to play in the Premiership and I wanted to play for Ipswich Town."

Sampdoria's ownership is the process of changing and Sereni is now confident that he will get the money owed to him, a payment he says he is due as he was taking a paycut when he moved to Town: "My salary is less here so I asked Sampdoria for a settlement to leave which they agreed to and everyone was happy with. Coming here was not about money it was about playing Premiership football for Ipswich Town."

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls