IPSWICH Town are confident midfield lynchpin Owen Garvan will return to the club soon after being allowed to go home to Dublin to sort out his 'personal problems'.

By Elvin King

IPSWICH Town are confident midfield lynchpin Owen Garvan will return to the club soon after being allowed to go home to Dublin to sort out his 'personal problems'.

The 19-year-old has not been training with the rest of the Blues squad this week, but is expected to report back on Monday week when the Blues first team squad start five intensive training at Loughborough University.

A club spokesperson said: “Owen has some personal problems and manager Jim Magilton allowed him to return to Ireland.

“His absence from the club is not a fitness issue and he is expected back when the rest of the squad return after a nine day break.”

The Town players trained today, but have a break from tomorrow until the Loughborough trip.

“It was felt that it was best for Owen to sort things out now before the real intensive work begins,” added the spokesperson.

The influential Garvan missed the opening three months of last season after suffering from a debilitating post viral syndrome.

When he did return to the side he was a virtual ever-present, but took to time to regain full match fitness and the touch that makes him such a promising prospect.

Town fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that Garvan's current problems will be short-lived with reports that it was a slight strain that led to him missing out on the practice match against Woodbridge Town on Monday.

With fellow key midfielder Gavin Williams still struggling with a long-standing pelvic problem, Ipswich need Garvan to quickly overcome his current problems.