Full-back Moritz Volz says he is looking forward to take on Premier League opposition again when the Blues face Wigan in tonight's third round Carling Cup tie. The Fulham defender is on loan with the Blues for the season.
Volz says on his excellent website: "It'll be good to be up against Premier League opposition again, and Wigan have signed some decent players so they'll be a tough nut to crack.
"But we'll be playing with our strongest team and it's a great challenge to look forward to. I've not played my part in this competition so far but the team has given us two decent results already and I'm really hoping we can carry that on and get a good cup run going.â€Â
The 25-year-old, who also writes a column in The Times, says Town should have claimed all three points at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday and feels that a victory over Crystal Palace this weekend is important: "We were solid at the back and defended well, and a clean sheet away from home is never to be scoffed at. But it was still disappointing not to capitalise on our possession and come away with all the points.
"So, all in all, it was a mixed few days in as far as we didn't lose at all, but we still feel like we dropped unnecessary points. And when you draw games, it's really the next result which determines whether it's viewed as a good or a bad draw. So if we beat Palace on Saturday, we'll look upon two away points as positive, but if we lose to Palace those results will seem a lot worse.â€Â
Meanwhile, former Blue Titus Bramble is looking forward to returning to Portman Road with Wigan this evening: "Ipswich is my team. I'm a Town fan through and through so I can't wait to play at Portman Road.
"It's going to be a really special moment and it's just a shame that I've had to wait six years to get the opportunity. Obviously I'll be trying my hardest to win the game for Wigan but there will always be a place in my heart for the club and for the fans.
"They were really supportive of me in my early days and I'll never forget that. It won't surprise people to know that after a game on a Saturday, Ipswich is always the first result I look out for."
Bramble says he plans to follow in Kieron Dyer's footsteps by sponsoring a Town academy game this season: "Although I've moved on I've never forgotten my roots. I know what Ipswich has done for my career and that's why I've agreed to get involved with sponsorship at the academy.
"Kieron Dyer sponsored the U18s game against Arsenal last year and I'm going to do something similar with a match against Manchester United in April. It gives me the opportunity to put something back into the club that gave me so much."
Tonight will be the second time Bramble has been back at Portman Road since his £4.5 million 2002 move to Newcastle. The central defender was in the Magpies side which was defeated 2-1 by the Blues in the testimonial match for Dale Roberts in 2004.