IPSWICH star Gavin Williams is ready to return to action tomorrow night.The 26-year-old midfielder will make his comeback after groin surgery in the Suffolk Premier Cup quarter-final clash at Needham Market.

By Mel Henderson

IPSWICH star Gavin Williams is ready to return to action tomorrow night.

The 26-year-old midfielder will make his comeback after groin surgery in the Suffolk Premier Cup quarter-final clash at Needham Market.

Williams went under the knife towards the end of September and has missed Town's last nine first team fixtures.

But the twice-capped Wales international has been passed fit to play in tomorrow's game, when an Ipswich reserve side will make the short journey along the A14 to take on the Ridgeons League high fliers.

The Town second string defeated Felixstowe & Walton United 3-1 at Dellwood Avenue in the last round but, bearing in mind Needham's lofty perch in the Premier Division, they could have a tougher test at Bloomfields.

Williams' return is a major boost to Ipswich at a time when their

confidence is sky-high following Sunday's richly deserved derby triumph over Norwich.

Another midfielder, 18-year-old Owen Garvan, is also close to a senior comeback after being named on the bench for the 3-1 win over the Canaries

With both players restored to manager Jim Magilton's squad it will put Ipswich in far better shape to push for a play-off place during the remainder of the season.

It was a year ago that then manager Joe Royle signed Williams on loan from West Ham and he marked his debut with Town's goal in a 1-1 draw at Coventry.

The former Hereford and Yeovil player did well enough during his loan spell for Royle to complete a £250,000 permanent move in January this year.

But he was dogged by injury problems and his season was cut short when he played his last game in February.

Again this term he had problems and it was decided that an operation was the only course of action to rid him of the injury.