New Town signing Alex Bruce is convinced that Town are Premiership bound. The 21-year-old centre-half says he is extremely excited to have joined the Blues.

Bruce says his father Steve gave him a glowing report of Town: "It is very difficult working for your dad and we both agreed it was the right time to get away.

"He told me that Ipswich were a club with a great pedigree for bringing young players through and that they play a great brand of football.

"We look as though we have a young, hungry team and you can tell that Jim Magilton is enthusiastic from the very first time you meet him.

"When you look at the facilities, it is obviously a club that is destined for the Premier League.

"We will be doing our utmost to try to achieve that. At my age, you need to be playing every week.

"Hopefully, I will be playing every week here and I am extremely excited about signing for Ipswich."

Bruce senior says his son's move away from Birmingham is probably best for all concerned: "Allowing Alex to leave has been one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make.

"I've always tried to put my feelings as a father to one side and make choices that are best for the football club.

"However, I cannot escape the fact that I am leaving myself open to charges of nepotism as far as Alex is concerned. It's not fair on me and certainly not fair on him.

"After all, he is trying to make a career for himself in the game and that is hard enough.

"Jim Magilton rang me on Monday morning and asked me about Alex and, after a great deal of consideration, I decided it was best for the club if Alex moved on."

Bruce junior will go into the Town squad for the season opener at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

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