GARY Roberts is preparing for Christmas in Ipswich - around 250 miles away from his Merseyside home.

His future a week beyond that is not yet certain.

But with his career set to step up from League Two to Championship level, there is one thing the 22-year-old is sure about.

He owes it all to Accrington Stanley.

Roberts has earned rave reviews since joining the Tractor Boys on loan from Stanley in mid-October - most notably for the televised 3-1 win over neighbours Norwich and last Saturday's 2-2 draw at Cardiff City, in which he equalised from the penalty spot.

Such performances have caught the eye of Ipswich's rival teams, forcing manager Jim Magilton to threaten violence should anyone try to snatch the winger from under his nose when the January transfer windown opens.

Roberts' wing wizardry has also been brought to the attention of Wales boss John Toshack.

However, it is unlikely he will qualify for the principality as his Welsh ancestory goes back to his great-great grandmother.

The former Crewe trainee's main aim, for now, is to concentrate on earning a contract at Portman Road.

"I've just got to keep trying to do well and stay in the team - that's the most important thing to me at the minute," Roberts said.

"Apparently there are a couple of clubs interested, but I'm happy here.

"They've made me feel at home. There are a lot of young lads here and I've settled in alright.

"It's a massive club. If you look around at the ground, the fans - it's a Premiership club in the wrong division.

"I'm not sure if it's possible to get there this year, but Jim Magilton has a similar plan to the one John Coleman had last season when Accrington won the Conference - bring in a lot of young players and gel them together.

"The manager has been good to me and let me play how I normally play," he added.

"I've been on the right wing here mainly, a couple of times on the left, and I'm pleased with how I've done.

"I'm not saying it's easy, but there hasn't been a game yet where I've struggled."

And he says he owes much of his success to Stanley.

"I speak to the gaffer (Coleman) - I still call him that - and Jimmy (Bell) most days," he said.

"Accrington has been a good grounding for me.

"I had a great time there.

"They gave me my chance and I loved every minute of it.

"But I think it was my time to go."