Striker Daryl Murphy says he’s hopeful of being back in contention for next Saturday’s trip to Cardiff City. The on-loan Celtic man, who is in his second loan spell at Portman Road, has missed the last two games with a hamstring problem.
The 28-year-old says he should be over the problem in time for the trip to Wales: "Unfortunately I got injured in the warm-up a few weeks ago before the West Ham game at Upton Park.
"The medical facilities at Ipswich are first class and I am determined to get back into contention for the game against Cardiff City next week.”
The one-time Sunderland man says his return to Town came about very quickly: "My move from Celtic back to Ipswich came out of the blue completely. I had no idea the move would come about.
"It all happened in one day. I was heading off to play a game with Celtic when I received a phone call asking me if I fancied a move back to Ipswich on a season-long loan.
"I had no hesitation in accepting because I knew the club and the area from my previous period there.
"My wife loves the area and our two young children are settled into schools, so everything is fine.”
Murphy, speaking while back in his native Ireland during the international break, was sad to see Roy Keane, the man who brought him to Town for his first loan spell in 2009/10, leave the club but says he has been impressed with his replacement: "Roy Keane was good to me and he is a decent man.
"He has a presence about him and I was sorry to see him lose his job at the club. Paul Jewell is a different sort of manager, but he is also a very good boss.”
Murphy likes the look of the squad the current Blues boss has assembled: "Paul Jewell has brought in some experienced players like Michael Chopra, Ibrahima Sonko, Lee Bowyer, David Stockdale, Jimmy Bullard and Nathan Ellington and we are now just a point off the play-off positions. Aaron Cresswell is one hell of a player also.”
The Waterford-born player, who spent time on trial at Town before joining Sunderland in 2005, is envious of his team-mates away with their international squads at present but says that for the moment he’s concentrating on club football: "I would love to help Ipswich get back into the Premiership.
"Of course I would love to play for Ireland again, but all I can do is try and score goals for the club and take things from there.
"Who knows what the future will bring? I am still a contracted Celtic player [until next June], but for now all of my focus this season is on Ipswich Town and promotion.”
Meanwhile, Blues boss Paul Jewell was spotted watching Bradford City beat Torquay United 1-0 at Valley Parade on Saturday afternoon. Jewell’s home in Yorkshire is close to the club he managed between 1998 and 2000.
Elsewhere, former Town loanee Jimmy Juan is on trial with SPL side St Johnstone, his previous club Grenoble having gone bust.
Photo: Action Images/Steven Paston