AXED Ipswich keeper Shane Supple has vowed to win back his first team place.Despite his obvious disappointment at being excluded from the starting line-up to face Hull at Portman Road on Saturday, the Irish teenager has no intention of over-reacting.

By Mel Henderson

AXED Ipswich keeper Shane Supple has vowed to win back his first team place.

Despite his obvious disappointment at being excluded from the starting line-up to face Hull at Portman Road on Saturday, the Irish teenager has no intention of over-reacting.

He will not be banging on Jim Magilton's door, nor will he throw a tantrum, and the thought of asking for a transfer hasn't even entered his head.

What he will do is apply himself 100 per cent and work as hard as he knows how on the training ground to ensure that his stay on the sidelines is kept to an absolute minimum.

He also accepts that replacement Lewis Price is now the man in possession and that he might have to be patient as he awaits a recall.

But if Town boss Magilton had any doubts about Supple and his attitude, they were instantly removed by the 19-year-old's reaction to being dropped.

Supple said: “The gaffer came to me last Thursday and told me he was going to leave me out against Hull. I was very disappointed but he's the manager and it's his job to make the decisions.

“He said he didn't think I had been sharp enough in the first three games and to be honest I knew where he was coming from.

“I hadn't been happy with my form either. I certainly wasn't where I wanted to be - my level of performance hadn't been up where it was last season.

“I wasn't as sharp as I had been and I definitely blamed myself for Crystal Palace's first goal on the opening day of the season, which let them back into the game.”

The young goalkeeper's devastation at being axed did not prevent him from being first to wish Price well in what was only his third senior appearance this year.

Supple added: “This is the first time this has happened to me and I'm not going to make too much of it. That's the way it goes in football and there are plenty of bigger names than me who know what it's like.

“It's all part of the game and when you're as young as I am it's a learning curve. I'll be back - it's just a matter of when. I'll be ready when the gaffer needs me.

“It will depend on a lot of things, like how the team are doing and how well Lewis is playing. I just have to make sure that I'm ready. I'll keep my head down and keep working hard.

“It's not as if I'm going to be isolated and out of things. I'll be on the bench and I'll still be training as I've always done - and I'll be ready to step in if and when the gaffer decides.”

On a more general note, Supple is convinced there are better times ahead for Town after a start to the season that has reaped just one point from a possible 12.

He said: “We're getting stronger as a squad and the confidence is returning. Once the new players are bedded in, and we have a settled side, things will improve.

“The draw with Hull had its good points, like the clean sheet, but we should really be beating sides like Hull at home if we are going to do anything in this league.

“Hopefully our first win of the season isn't far away and the lift we get from winning will carry us forward and see us climb up the table.”