Former Blues loanee Richard Stearman is looking forward to meeting up with plenty of old friends when he returns to Portman Road with Wolves this evening. The 27-year-old made 15 appearances for Town during a successful loan spell in the second half of the 2012/13 campaign.

The centre-half or right-back has a lot of time for manager Mick McCarthy, who took him from Leicester City to Molineux in June 2008, and his assistant Terry Connor.

“Mick and TC have played a big part in what I have achieved in my career,” he told the Birmingham Mail.

“It will be good to see them again but I am sure they will know that we will be trying to put one over on them tonight!

“With Mick in charge we know Ipswich will be very hard-working, strong and resolute and they are on a good run at the moment.

“We are going to have to be right on our game to pick up anything. I’m still in touch with Berra and Hunty as well.

“Berra has scored a few goals and become prolific since he moved there. It will be good to see them but when the game starts we’ll all be desperate for the win.”

Stearman says his half-season spell with the Blues went well: “I’ve got some good memories of Ipswich. I enjoyed my time there and it was a successful few months for me and the team.

“It will be nice to go back and see a few friendly faces and familiar faces. But I am back at Wolves now and we are going down there to go and get the points.

“It’s a traditional old-school stadium which is really good to play at and Ipswich are very strong there — it’s going to be a good test for us.”

The defender currently finds himself out of the Wolves side - Ethan Ebanks-Landell and Danny Batth are the central pairing at present - and is likely to be on the bench this evening: “Unfortunately I’ve found myself out of the team at the moment but the boys are playing very well.

“I will continue to train hard and wait until I’m called upon and be ready to step in.”

Meanwhile, Elliott Hewitt says he benefited from his month on loan at Colchester United, the 20-year-old having returned to Portman Road yesterday.

“I feel like I developed in the short time I was with Colchester,” he told the Colchester Gazette. “I worked under good staff there and played with good players."

Photo: Action Images

SouperJim added 10:12 - Nov 4 Wolves must be very strong at the back if Stearman isn't getting in. Thought he was terrific during his spell here and would love him back in our squad.
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theblueginger added 11:01 - Nov 4 Always liked Stears, Although i'm not sure he would make much of a ifference in todays team! Wouldn't get a look at CB and similar to Chambers on the right?
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bohslegend added 11:02 - Nov 4 A quality centre back playing right full - who'd have thunk it?
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elbuerto added 11:06 - Nov 4 He also almost cut Parr in half against Palace in april 2013.
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Simonds92 added 11:18 - Nov 4 To be fair the same could be said about us and the fact we're able to keep tommy smith on the bench this season, he was player of the year a couple of seasons ago and hasn't put a foot wrong! As well as he played for us he wouldn't walk in to our starting line up by any means!
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brian_a_mul added 16:30 - Nov 4 Its amazing the difference in 12 months. Considering a quality defender like Stearman wouldnt get in to our team at the moment. Would still be a great addition to our squad to cover CB and RB.
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