IF there is one player looking forward to the hectic festive programme at Portman Road it is young midfielder Owen Garvan.The 18-year-old Irishman said today: “The games will come thick and fast - and I can hardly wait!“My season is really just starting so the more games I play the better I will like it.

By Mel Henderson

IF there is one player looking forward to the hectic festive programme at Portman Road it is young midfielder Owen Garvan.

The 18-year-old Irishman said today: “The games will come thick and fast - and I can hardly wait!

“My season is really just starting so the more games I play the better I will like it.”

Garvan has regained full fitness after a nightmare first half of the campaign, during which he battled shingles and was then diagnosed as a suffering from post viral fatigue syndrome.

But a series of reserve appearance and two full games at senior level have confirmed he is back to his best.

And a trip to Cardiff tomorrow, to face a weakened Welsh side, has him feeling confident about the outcome.

He added: “It's not the easiest of places to go because they have vociferous fans and the atmosphere can be a bit hostile.

“But we can deal with that and let our football do the talking.

“Three points are not beyond us, because there are no teams that we are afraid of.

“We just need to get a couple of good results back to back and go from there.”

Garvan, who will be 19 next month, is also looking forward to the Christmas and New Year schedule because it will coincide with a visit from his parents.

He said: “They will be here on Boxing Day and they are looking forward to it just as much as I am. They haven't seen me play in a very long time.

“When I was ill it was a worrying time for them as parents. They know how much football means to me and it was a hard time for them to cope with as much as myself.

“But I had a programme that I had to stick to in order to build myself up gradually and hopefully that's all in the past now.

“All I'm interested in is doing well for Ipswich. All the frustration of seeing the other lads train and play but not be able to join in myself is over now.

“Like I said, it's as if the season is starting for me and I've a lot of ground to make up.

“It can still be a good season for us. We are at the stage where we can still achieve something if we can just find the consistency to get a run of decent results under our belts.”