Anthony Wordsworth admits his recall to the Town starting line-up at Blackburn on Saturday did not come as a surprise.

Wordsworth, 25, was back on duty at Ewood Park a week after his exclusion from manager Mick McCarthy’s team to take on Nottingham Forest at Portman Road.

He said: “I wasn’t really surprised because the gaffer said I was having a rest and I obviously have to believe what he said.

“I always thought there was an opportunity for me to go back in and it would have obviously been different if the boys had won against Nottingham Forest. I was delighted to be back in the team.”

Town suffered their first defeat in four games at Blackburn but going into tonight’s fixture at Huddersfield they remain one of six teams still hoping to pip sixth-placed Reading for the last available play-off berth.

Wordsworth added: “Make no mistake about it, it was a big game and I think we all know that, but it’s still not over until it’s over. Reading have an important game at Bournemouth and hopefully we can get a result at Huddersfield.

“Do we have to win up there? Obviously it depends on other results but we’ll be going there to win the game, that’s for sure. We want to get all three points.”

Town trail Reading by five points and the Royals also have the added advantage of a superior goal difference, with Wordsworth conceding: “If Reading beat Bournemouth it’s going to be pretty tough for us with just five games left.

“Hopefully Bournemouth can do us all a favour but they will also be doing themselves a favour if they win against Reading because they are still right in it. It’s all to play for and it’s exciting.

“From my personal point of view I could probably tell you the rest of the remaining fixtures for all six teams in the race for the play-offs. That’s the type of person I am and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls