Shane in the shop window

AT FULL STRETCH . . . Shane Supple shows the agility which persuaded Joe Royle to sign him on loan from Ipswich.

ON-LOAN Shane Supple admits he is playing for his future during his temporary spell at Boundary Park.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper will be out of contract at Ipswich Town this summer and does not know whether he will be offered a new deal.

Supple, an Eire under-21 international, is delighted to be given the chance to play regular first-team football at Boundary Park.

“I don’t know what is going to happen but by being here it puts me in the shop window,” he said.

Supple admitted it had been a difficult campaign at Ipswich where he was understudy to former England international Richard Wright.

Indeed, Wright’s form was so impressive that Supple was restricted to only one first-team appearance, and that was early in the campaign in the Carling Cup.

Supple said: “Being a No. 2 keeper is one of the most difficult positions at a football club.
“And it is especially hard when you have played first-team football as I have.”

Supple made 22 appearances for Ipswich during his debut campaign in 2005/06 and 12 the following year.

But he has not featured in a league game in the last two seasons and his only first-team experience came in a loan spell at Scottish club Falkirk.

Supple was handed his first-team debut at Ipswich by Athletic boss Joe Royle, who has described the keeper’s style as reminding him of Andy Goram.

“Joe has been a massive influence on my career as he gave me my chance at Ipswich as a kid,” said Supple.

“It is great that he hadn’t forgotten me and I hope I can do the business for him.”

Supple is a graduate of the successful youth academy at Irish club Home Farm and can recall Manchester City’s Richard Dunne being there when he was a youngster.

Ipswich have an extensive scouting network in Ireland and Supple joined at the same time as Owen Garvan, another Home Park player, who has since established himself as a regular in their Championship side.

“I was only 15 when I joined Ipswich and it was hard moving so far away from home at that age,” said Supple.

“But Ipswich is very much a family club and they looked after me well which made it easier.”