Town midfielder Andy Drury is quick to acknowledge the part that Crawley Town have played in his progress. A loan spell with the Red Devils, in which he scored four goals in 15 league and cup appearances, has proved the springboard to holding down a regular Championship place.
The former Luton player, who at one point looked to be on his way to the League Two promotion hopefuls on a permanent basis, has instead clocked up eight successive league starts during a much-improved spell for Paul Jewell’s team.
Drury, 28, said: "As far as I’m concerned my time at Crawley was very important in terms of gaining the necessary match fitness.
"I worked hard on my fitness last summer but I wasn’t getting in the Ipswich team during the first few games of the season.
"I needed games and I got them at Crawley so when I came back from my two or three months on loan I was sharp and ready to go.
"Everyone is different — Luke [Hyam] wasn’t playing regularly but he has come into the side with no problems. In my case I definitely benefited from my time at Crawley and then I was lucky to get my opportunity back here because there were a few injuries.” Drury’s proposed move to Crawley collapsed when their bid failed to match the fee initially agreed between the clubs at the start of his temporary stint. He added: "They went back on their offer and the gaffer told me it had been turned down. If they didn’t want to sell at that price it was fine by me. I understand that football’s a business and how that side of things is important.” Photo: Action ImagesWhat to read next:
Writer-publisher David Moloney is working on a women’s football fan yearbook and is after input from supporters of Ipswich Town Women.
Central defender Dara O’Shea says he’s “fully committed to Ipswich at the moment” and wants to get the Blues back into the Premier League, the Republic of Ireland international having been linked with Wolves, Leeds United and a return to Burnley this summer.
Town’s U21s will play a friendly against Cole Skuse’s Bury Town at Ram Meadow on Tuesday 29th July.
Keeper Cieran Slicker is one of three Town players who could win senior caps this evening - along with George Hirst, also with Scotland, and Nathan Broadhead with Wales - with Scots boss Steve Clarke having given the 22-year-old his backing for “a big future” following his tough international debut against Iceland on Friday evening.
Welcome to the annual TWTD Questionnaire, your chance to look back in judgement on Town's 2024/25 season
Justis Huni’s manager Mick Francis says his team are to launch an official appeal to the WBA regarding the manner in which referee John Latham ended last night’s fight with Fabio Wardley at Portman Road.
Town boss Kieran McKenna would be targeted by Brentford should Thomas Frank depart for Tottenham Hotspur, according to various reports.
Fabio Wardley won his Portman Road fight in sensational style, knocking out Justis Huni with a huge right hand in the 10th round to claim the WBA interim Heavyweight title with the Australian looking on course for victory.
Town youngster Josh Pitts won his second Malta U21s cap in this evening’s 2-1 friendly win away in San Marino (KO 5pm).
The waiting is finally over for Fabio Wardley, with the Town-supporting boxer’s long-held ambition of a Portman Road fight set to be fulfilled this evening.