Town new boy Conor Grant was delighted to hear that boss Mick McCarthy had compared his playing style to that of Cardiff City’s Peter Whittingham, who launched his career with Aston Villa and made 17 appearances at England U21 level.

Grant said: “Peter’s a player I’ve always looked up to. He’s been around the block and had a very good career so that’s very high praise from the manager.

“I wouldn’t say I model myself on anyone in particular but I have a big interest in the game and learning as much as I can. I like to watch a lot of football, study different players and how they play.

“My favourite player of all time is Zinedine Zidane. I’ve always idolised him from an early age and he’s the best I’ve seen. I loved the way he played the game, so graceful going about his work.

“I’m a ball-playing midfielder. I like to get on the ball and try to get forward, make runs and have shots. I like to help the team and give 100 per cent.

Most of my youth career and up to the present I’ve played left midfield but in the central area, like left of three in midfield.

“That’s where I have always felt most comfortable but I’ve also played out wide as well and I feel I can play in all the midfield positions if needed.”

Grant’s versatility is one of the reasons he was signed on a season-long loan from Everton by McCarthy and the player is no stranger to spending time ‘on the road’ as part of his football education.

His time in Scotland with Motherwell saw him appear in the second leg of the play-off clash with Rangers, when the Steelmen won 6-1 on aggregate to retain their SPL status and make the Ibrox club wait until this year to complete their climb back to the top flight.

Grant said: “It was mad and crazy, the second game, but it was good to be involved. It was a massive game at the time and maybe we didn’t realise — well I certainly didn’t — just how big it was until afterwards. It taught me a lot playing up in Scotland.

“I was at Doncaster last season and that was another good experience, even if we were relegated from League One.

“To this day I don’t know how that team ended up getting relegated. There were a lot of very good players there but I suppose that’s football. It opened my eyes to how football can be.”

Grant can count on plenty of support from his Merseyside-based family and he laughed: “After Motherwell and Doncaster I’m at Ipswich so I’m sure they will be clocking up some miles.

“Unfortunately they couldn’t come on Saturday but they are travelling down for the Stevenage game and they will be following me to quite a few games after that.

“All my loan moves have all been great for me — they have turned me into a man, welcomed me to professional football and given me a great insight to it — plus they have definitely improved me as a player. I’m hoping it will be the same here and I’m sure it will be.

“But I know there are no guarantees of a place in the team. It’s up to me when I’m out on the training ground every day to give 100 per cent and show that I deserve to play in the team.

“When I went on against Barnsley at the weekend it was frantic, up and down and a lot of second balls, a big step up for me.

“I’m a fit lad so I hope I’ll cope OK but I haven’t had an unbelievable amount of minutes. I’m building up my fitness and the more minutes I get under my belt the fitter I’ll be and that in turn will help me to impress in games.”

Grant’s main contribution on Saturday was the corner from which Grant Ward completed his hat-trick and he added: “That’s something I like to work on and if I can get assists like that it will be good for the team. I just want to keep improving and add to what I can do for Ipswich.”

Photo: Action Images

DiamondGezzer added 07:47 - Aug 9 Sounds like a very sensible lad, and well done for your part in Saturdays win.
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brendanh added 16:35 - Aug 9 Yes Conor played well Sat. He's a big lad. My only gripe is he should have won the header on the edge of our box that led to their first. Or at least done enough to prevent the Barnsley player directing his header where he wanted.
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