A phone conversation with Town academy manager Bryan Klug proved the launching pad for Alan Lee’s return to Portman Road.

Lee, pictured above in his first spell with the Blues, explained: “I asked Bryan if I could come down in July and get some coaching experience. When you do your badges you do the tests but you also have to get a certain amount of experience.

"I was here doing my hours and it just gradually started from there, helping out with other coaches and now this.”

The “this” to which Lee refers is his decision not to hang up his boots after all, something he intended to do after Huddersfield released him in the summer and he snubbed other opportunities to extend his playing career.

The invitation from manager Mick McCarthy to sign on a non-contract basis was too good to reject and he has quickly made up ground on his fitness.

Lee said: “I didn’t have a pre-season but I played a lot of tennis. That might sound daft but I also did a lot of cycling so my weight was fine. It really didn’t take long before I was back to full training. I feel fantastic now. I have been training since mid-July, so I feel good.”

Two goals as an overage player for Town’s U21 side helped to convince McCarthy that the former Republic of Ireland striker could still do a job at first team level.

Lee will continue to coach at academy level but will continues to join the club’s senior players in training on a daily basis, ready to answer the call if it comes.

He added: “I’m going to train every day like I’m going to start on the Saturday and if I get my chance I aim to make it as hard as possible for the manager to leave me out.

“I feel great at the moment and I love it here. I love coming in every day but it will be someone else’s decision as to how long I’ve got left as a player.”

In addition to senior strikers David McGoldrick, Daryl Murphy, Frank Nouble and Paul Taylor, Lee says he also faces a battle with first-year pro Jack Marriott when it comes to winning a place in Mick McCarthy's matchday squad.

“Jack’s a good player and he’s scored goals but it’s his attitude that has really impressed me," he said. "He comes in every morning with an aura that says he means business.

“He trains with the first team and if he gives the ball away he’s like a little terrier to get it back. He’s strong, he won’t get bullied and he’s a good prospect. Plus he’s not afraid to tell people off if they don’t pass to him — I’ve already found that out!”

Photo: Action Images

BotesdaleBlue added 07:59 - Sep 19 Interesting to hear his comments regarding Marriott. I do wonder what has happened with him this season, as Mick has hardly spoken about him and is not making the bench. I hope he will push his way back into the first team picture, as he should really be pushing ahead of Lee, who at 35 only has a limited playing future ahead of him now. Anyway, best of luck Alan in your future coaching career.

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AliceTheobald95 added 08:21 - Sep 19 i believe that although not much was said publically that Marriott was injured for most of pre season so i still think hes playing catch up with the other players so more likely he wont be on the fringes of the team until next year i reckon,
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murraybrunning added 08:52 - Sep 19 Quote from Brian Klug “As an apprentice in his second month at Ipswich, Alan (Brazil) scored 16 goals in one month, four each in four games and that puts it into perspective. “But goalscorers catch the eye and hide a multitude of sins but he does need time and there is a little way to go!" Klug knows his business and I think it's going to be a very gradual transition for him this year. Darren Bent was the same age as Marriott when he made his debut so he is obviously progressing Ok, lets hope he goes on to similar success.

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brian_a_mul added 09:02 - Sep 19 Jack has only just made the senior squad, Im sure he will get some game time in the second half of the season, if he doesnt go out on loan first. I wouldnt mind to see him play first team on loan at League 2. Would be a great experience for him.
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