Henderson: I want first-team football

Stephen Henderson has declared his willingness to leave West Ham United in order to secure regular first team football after completing a loan move to Ipswich Town.

The 24-year-old goalkeeper completed a three-month loan move to the Championship club yesterday having failed to make a single Premier League appearance for West Ham since joining the club from Portsmouth on a permanent basis in the summer.

And in his first interview since moving to Portman Road, the Irish stopper revealed that he was far from happy sitting on the bench at West Ham playing second fiddle to Jussi Jaaskelainen.

"Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m not the type of player who wants to sit on the bench and pick up his wages," he told itfc.co.uk. "I need to play games.

"So when I got told I could go out on loan and I knew Ipswich were keen, it was an easy decision for me. I spoke to the manager [Paul Jewell] on Saturday and was here for training on Monday morning."

Henderson, who cost West Ham a nominal fee when moving to London from cash-strapped Portsmouth back in May also indicated that he would be prepared to leave east London permanently if it meant he could secure regular first team football.

"That’s why I’m here," he added. "If the opportunity is there to stay beyond January and everyone is happy with that, I’d definitely want to do it."

Henderson becomes the Tractor Boys' eighth loan signing of the season and will compete with Scott Loach and Arran Lee-Barrett for a place in Paul Jewell's starting eleven.

West Ham's third-choice goalkeeper - Swiss stopper Raphael Spiegel - will deputise for Henderson in his absence.