Stephen Gleeson admits his move to Town has given him a new lease of life after a frustrating time at Birmingham that saw him play - or not play - for four different managers in just over a year.

The 29-year-old midfielder was a regular choice under Gary Rowett but struggled to hold his place and dropped out of the limelight as Gianfranco Zola, Harry Redknapp and Steve Cotterill all checked in at St Andrew’s in fairly quick succession.

Gleeson arrived on a free transfer last week and after meeting his new team-mates for a Friday morning training session he was given his Town debut as a half-time substitute in the 1-1 draw at Bolton the following day.

He said: “It was good to get involved and be playing again. It’s probably been pushing on for a year now since I was playing regular football at Birmingham, so it was nice to come in, play straight away and get 45 minutes under my belt.

“I had a game here and there over the last few months for Birmingham but I’m hoping to play regularly in the next few months here.

“It’s good to be training with a purpose, knowing that I can potentially play on a Saturday, which wasn’t happening enough at Birmingham.

“This is a new environment and I know that I’ll probably have a chance of getting minutes at the weekend. It was different up in Birmingham.”

Gleeson could make his full debut at Portman Road on Saturday when his first club, Wolves, are the visitors. But he dismissed the notion that he believes he has a point to prove to the Molineux men, currently nine points clear of second-placed Derby in the race to clinch automatic promotion to the Premier League.

He said: “I’ve never thought I had a point to prove, nothing like that. I’ve always believed in my own ability, even when the manager [Mick McCarthy] told me I wasn’t good enough.

“I always thought I could get back, at least to Championship level, so I don’t have a point to prove. I know what I can do and I’m confident in my own ability.

“It’s amazing to see the money Wolves have spent, a bit similar to Birmingham but they have done a bit better with it at Wolves.

“There are a lot of good people at the club. Some people might have questioned how the foreign lads would do over the winter period but they have been brilliant.

“I played 45 minutes against them in December and they are a great footballing side. It will be a massive test on Saturday if I play or get on the pitch at any stage but it’s one to look forward to.”

Saturday’s draw at Bolton gave Gleeson his first taste of competitive football in six weeks and he added: “It was only 45 minutes and I felt fine, as if I could have done the whole 90 to be fair.

“If you’re not playing they work you hard at Birmingham. My match sharpness probably isn’t 100 per cent but I feel fit and if the manager needs me on Saturday against Wolves I feel ready to go again.

“Anyone that knows me knows that I like to play football. I like to get on the ball and I’m quite comfortable on it. I like to pass the ball and if I can chip in with an odd goal or two that would be amazing.

“What you saw on Saturday was typical of how I want to play, getting on the ball and being positive.

“I definitely believe I should have scored more goals in my career. To be honest — I don’t even know the last time I scored a goal so it is definitely something I’ll be looking to do here, getting into the box and hopefully scoring one or two before the end of the season.

“I’m here for the rest of the season but if I’ve played well we can look at it again in the summer. It’s like a new lease of life for me for six months.

“I’m looking at it like that and I want to be back playing and enjoying football. I want to be happy at home because when you’re not playing football you take it home sometimes.

“I probably don’t want the season to end to be honest because it’s a fresh environment for me, which is good.

“I’m in a hotel for the moment but I’m getting an apartment because I have a young family and it would be tough living away from them. I want to get them down and get settled in properly.”

Photo: TWTD

Seasider added 18:56 - Jan 25 Was impressed with him on Saturday so lets hope he continues the good 45 minutes he had at Bolton.I thought Town were much better in the second half after Skues had to go off. Early days I know but I hope for his, and his familys sake,that he does well;and the club are able to sign him for longer.
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Cookycrew added 09:55 - Jan 26 Positive in his manner, and is also positive as a player. MM may, like Waghorn/Garner have got another real bargain. Fingers crossed.
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PortmanTerrorist added 13:08 - Jan 26 Early days, but in Gleeson we potentially have what we see in Connolly as well as Huws/Adeyemi when fit i.e. complete midfielders. However, MM is so cautious that he simply won't play without a CDM "protecting" the back 4. So which one would you drop in place of Skuse ?
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