Roberts back with Tractor Boys

FORMER Huddersfield Town favourite Gary Roberts appears to have hung up his boots - for the time being, at least - after leaving his playing role Accrington Stanley to take up a coaching position at Ipswich Town.

The 36-year-old midfielder made 192 appearance for the Terriers between 2008 and 2012 after joining from Ipswich, and helped them win promotion out of League One in his final season, scoring from the spot in the play-off final shoot-out.

His efforts at the John Smith’s Stadium earned him a place in our Huddersfield Town team of the decade for the 2010s playing on the right of a midfield five alongside Aaron Mooy, Jonathan Hogg, Adam Clayton and Anthony Pilkington.

Roberts now returns to Portman Road to link up once again with his former boss Paul Cook, whom he played under for Chesterfield, Portsmouth and Wigan.

Cook replaced Paul Lambert as Ipswich manager on Monday with the club just outside the League One play-off places. They’re in eighth, just two points behind sixth-placed

Doncaster Rovers, who have a game in hand.

The new Tractor Boys boss said: “I’ve worked with Gary before and we are both looking forward to meeting up with all the other staff at Ipswich and working together to give us the best possible chance of winning promotion this season.”

Cook and Roberts both left Wigan after their administration-induced relegation from the Championship last season. Roberts had a brief spell with Welsh side Bala Town before re-joining another of his former clubs, Accrington Stanley, in January.