SIMON Walton wants to leave Portman Road with a bang.The 19-year-old midfielder is due to return to Premiership Charlton early next month after a four-and-a-half month loan with Ipswich Town.

By Elvin King

SIMON Walton wants to leave Portman Road with a bang.

The 19-year-old midfielder is due to return to Premiership Charlton early next month after a four-and-a-half month loan with Ipswich Town.

In that time he has appeared in 15 matches and scored three goals.

With Gavin Williams having to leave the field early after scoring the only goal in Saturday's

1-0 Championship win over Leeds United, Walton may get his wish to return to the Town starting line-up against Stoke City this weekend.

“I obviously hope that Gavin's groin injury does not stop him playing this Saturday,” said Walton.

“However, if he is out I will be hoping to be back in the starting line-up and then keep my place for the remainder of my stay.

“It will give me a chance to repay the club and its fans before I depart.”

Les Reed, the recently appointed Charlton manager, has spoken to Walton and told him that he would like him back when his loan expires at the opening of the transfer window.

“Mr Reed has told me that I will go into his first-team plans,” added Walton.

“So it looks like two more weeks at Ipswich as nothing has been said about an extension.

“I have mixed feelings about it. It will be sad to leave as I have enjoyed myself at Portman Road.

“Ipswich gave me a chance to play first-team football and I am grateful for that.

“On the other hand, the challenge of helping Charlton in their current situation is one I relish.

“Charlton are struggling to stay in the Premiership and there is much work to be done.

“If I can go back a better player and help to that cause I will be pleased.”

CULTURED French midfielder Sylvain Legwinski has added to the praises aimed at Ipswich Town's young starlet Owen Garvan.

The pair have played together as the Blues have gone unbeaten over their last three matches - and 33-year-old Legwinski forecasts a bright future for the Dublin-born youngster.

“Owen is one of the young players at Ipswich who can go on and make a big name for themselves in the game,” said the former Fulham player. “He is someone with whom it is easy to play football.

“We are still getting a full understanding and are talking to each other a lot during games.

“We still have some finer points to deal with, but it is obvious to me that Owen is one for the future.”

GAVIN Williams could be fit to keep his place in the Ipswich Town team for their home Championship game against Stoke on Saturday.

The Welsh international has had an injection to help settle a troublesome groin injury that forced him off after an hour of Saturday's 1-0 victory over Leeds.

Dave Williams, Ipswich's head of sports science, said: “We have scanned his back and his hip area and everything is normal.

“Gavin has had an injection into his pelvic region and we hope that will settle things down.

“It is a situation we will continue to monitor, but we are hopeful that having had the injection, he will be OK for the weekend.”

Williams recently returned to action having undergone groin surgery earlier in the season.