IPSWICH star Jaime Peters has a special reason for wanting to be on the winning side against Leicester tomorrow.The 19-year-old Canadian hopes to come up against fellow countryman Ian Hume, the Foxes striker and a close pal.

By Mel Henderson

IPSWICH star Jaime Peters has a special reason for wanting to be on the winning side against Leicester tomorrow.

The 19-year-old Canadian hopes to come up against fellow countryman Ian Hume, the Foxes striker and a close pal.

Peters said: “We come from the same area in Canada and we have played together for the national team.

“We are pretty close, we speak all the time on the phone and the bragging rights are at stake!”

But the first hurdle Peters must overcome is to retain his place in Jim Magilton's starting line-up.

He admitted: “I didn't think I did well in our 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace last week and I hope the manager gives me another chance.

“I desperately want to stay in the team and I have worked really hard in training this week to try to persuade him to stick with me.”

Peters is in his second season at Portman Road and although the club anticipate possible problems in having his work permit renewed the player has no doubts about where he wants to be playing his football next season.

He added: “I feel I am making real progress here at Ipswich. It's good when you're playing regularly.

“I am learning and improving and at 19 I am still young in this game. I can definitely get better.

“I'm far away from home but the best thing to keep me happy is for me to enjoy my football.

“And the best way to enjoy what I'm doing is to be in the first team on a regular basis.

“I am far more settled here, I have made friends and things are working out well football-wise.

“I had a year out, which was far from ideal, before I was able to get my career going here at Portman Road.

“There was a lot of red tape to be sorted out and that held me back in my career.

“The work permit situation doesn't concern me at the moment. I'm leaving my agent to sort that out.

“All that matters to me is staying in the team - and winning against Leicester to keep Ian quiet.”