By Aston
September 30 2004

Ipswich Town defender Chris Hogg is facing up to the harsh reality of the fact it looks unlikely he will play for the first team at Portman Road.

Hogg On His Future

Ipswich Town defender Chris Hogg is facing up to the harsh reality of the fact it looks unlikely he will play for the first team at Portman Road.

The 19 year old defender has been at Town since he was 16 after arriving from York City for £150,000 but has never made a first team appearance despite being called by England at various youth levels.

After the sacking of George Burley in 2002 and a combination of injuries and other problems he fell behind, more so after the arrival of current Town boss Joe Royle who was unimpressed by the centre back and has now been told he can leave Portman Road on a free transfer, ands leaving Portman Road is something Hogg doesn’t want to do but he is now expecting it.

Hogg: “Ideally I would stay at Ipswich Town but I know deep down what the situation is and that is not going to happen.

“If not, as I'm a northern lad, I would prefer to go back there and play, but it doesn't always work like that.

“I would like somewhere that is a decent football club.

“It is frustrating for me because I know I can do it at this level. It is just that chances have been hard for me to come by here.

“When the Gaffer came in I didn't perform at a higher level and his first impression of me was not very good. It has been hard for me, the last 18 months.

“I can't put my finger on it. I was making mistakes back then, which I'm not now making.

“Other players pushed on and I never did at the time.

“I'm confident enough in my ability, I know I can do it, but it is a case of getting it out of me.

“It is putting in the big performances when it matters.”.

Speaking about the Club it self Hogg added: “Ipswich is a great club and you grip on to every last little sniff of a chance at this club because you just don't want to leave this place and these people.

“If you have to leave then sometimes it can be a good thing, but my feeling is it won't be anywhere as good as being here.”.

Hogg spent last season on-loan at Boston united and in recent weeks there had been talk of him going to Darlington on loan, but the Quakers have not as yet followed up their interest in him.

Source: EADT

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