Alun Armstrong has fired a warning to his rival strikers at Ipswich Town: "I'm fit again and desperate to get back in the side."

The Blues frontrunner has endured an injury-plagued season but is available again after suffering a fractured wrist.

He made his long-awaited comeback as a substitute in Saturday's defeat by Nottingham Forest.

And he told the Evening Gazette: "It felt great to be involved again, even if it was just for four minutes.

"I feel good and, although I need to work on my fitness, I'm desperate to get back in the side.

"This season has been a nightmare for me, what with one injury after another.

"But I'm keeping upbeat about the situation because there's still time for me to make an impact.

"We've got five games left and I'd love to think I can help turn the course of a match and, hopefully, our season."

Armstrong admitted being impressed with Marcus Bent and Pablo Counago during the clash with Forest.

But he warned the duo: "That's the level they're going to have to perform at to keep me out of the side."

Published Tuesday, April 8, 2003

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