JOLTED Ipswich Town keeper Andy Marshall said today of £5 million newcomer Matteo Sereni: "He's opened my eyes to a few things."The 26-year-old former Norwich man, signed from the Canaries in June and stunned when the top Italian stopper arrived in August, is targeting a Portman Road debut for the Blues in Wednesday night's home reserve game with Fulham.

JOLTED Ipswich Town keeper Andy Marshall said today of £5 million newcomer Matteo Sereni: "He's opened my eyes to a few things."

The 26-year-old former Norwich man, signed from the Canaries in June and stunned when the top Italian stopper arrived in August, is targeting a Portman Road debut for the Blues in Wednesday night's home reserve game with Fulham.

Ex-England Under-21 man Marshall, who a fortnight ago could not walk due to a long-term back injury, said: "When Matteo first arrived from Italy, to say I was disappointed was an understatement. The manager brought me here to play first-team football. Now achieving that looks a hundred times harder.

"But I'm determined that there will be no negatives, that everything I think and do will be positive. I have to be ready for my chance when it comes, whether through injury or lack of form.

"Matteo is a great character and we get on well. I had watched him play before he arrived here and I have studied him closely since he joined us. He has opened my eyes to a few things.

"The main thing is to play football. I'm going to get my head down, work really hard, and see what happens in the next year."

Marshall, a free transfer Bosman Ruling signing, has not played since a back injury struck not long after he had appeared in the 5-1 pre-season tour win over FC Flora in Estonia.

He said: "It started with a pelvic problem and then moved to the back. It's been a nightmare time and fortnight ago I had so much sciatica that I could hardly put one leg in front of the other.

"I've been back in training for three days now and am feeling much happier. I'd love to play on Wednesday night against Fulham reserves. It would be my debut for my new club at Portman Road and I'd love to be there.

"I'm not taking anything for granted. We'll have to see how it goes over the next two days in training."

The Town Premiership squad today continue the preparations for Saturday's visit to bottom of the table Leicester City, who in the close season signed attacker James Scowcroft from them for £3.5m.

Centre-half John McGreal (hamstring) and striker Alun Armstrong (back) are set for training again.

Full-back Fabian Wilnis may be training again later in the week due to his hamstring problem.

Central defender Titus Bramble pulled out of the England Under-21 squad last week due to an ankle injury.

He remains under treatment but should be fit for the trip to Filbert Street.