GARY Roberts could today make Swansea boss Kenny Jackett regret his decision not to sign him.The 22-year-old winger was on trial with the Welshmen before joining Accrington Stanley, who sold him to the Tractor Boys for £200,000 this month after he had impressed during a loan spell at Portman Road.

By Mel Henderson

GARY Roberts could today make Swansea boss Kenny Jackett regret his decision not to sign him.

The 22-year-old winger was on trial with the Welshmen before joining Accrington Stanley, who sold him to the Tractor Boys for £200,000 this month after he had impressed during a loan spell at Portman Road.

Roberts said: “I was invited down to Swansea for a week and at the end of it Kenny told me I wasn't ready for League Two, which is where they were at the time.

“But this game isn't about me trying to prove a point. To be honest I think I've done that already because I'm playing regularly in the Championship.”

Today's game will provide Roberts with another close-up view of Swansea ace Lee Trundle, who is renowned for his repertoire of tricks.

The Ipswich player said: “Lee is a fellow Scouser and I got to see how good he is when I was training with him.

“The bloke's amazing. I thought I had one or two tricks but he is absolutely unbelievable. There are times when you'd think he had tied the ball to his feet.

“He's one we have to watch because he is capable of winning a game on his own with a piece of magic. Andy Robinson is another Scouser and he is another of their key players.”

But the fact that Swansea will be without £150,000 midfielder Ian Craney, also a former Accrington player, is a huge disappointment to Roberts.

He said: “Ian and I are big pals. He's cup-tied after playing for Accrington and he is gutted about it.

“We were room-mates and we both played for the England non-league team, plus we've also been away on holiday together and we're planning another summer break this year.

“We must have spoken on the phone every day this week and he was winding me up that I was lucky he couldn't play because he'd have had a kick at me.

“The last I heard he wasn't even sure he could come to the game because he's been told he has to train on Saturday morning.”

Victory over the Swans will take Ipswich into the last 16 for the first time since 1996, when George Burley's team were beaten 3-1 at home by Aston Villa.

But while many people favour a fifth round tussle with one of the Premiership giants, Roberts sees things rather differently.

He added: “I know we'd make a lot of money from a game at Manchester United or Chelsea but there aren't many teams who go there and win and we could be in for a hiding.

“I would rather we got a home tie against Blackpool. They're only playing Norwich and I think they can beat them.

“The big boys can wait until the quarter-finals!”