Experienced striker Jason Scotland is looking to provide Ipswich with a slimline tonic in the season ahead.
Scotland will go into today’s first Championship game of the new campaign, at home to relegated Blackburn, more than half a stone lighter than he finished last term.
The Trinidad & Tobago international starred in Tuesday’s comfortable Capital One Cup first round victory over Bristol Rovers, equalising five minutes before the break after the visitors had taken a shock lead to put Town en route to a 3-1 victory and a second round visit to Carlisle.
Eagle-eyed fans may have spotted the weight reduction and Scotland confirmed: "I have lost eight pounds because I wanted to be fitter and leaner than last season. I want to be as sharp as possible when called upon.”
The former Swansea and Wigan striker has so far netted 20 times in 82 appearances, 26 of them as a substitute, and fully accepts he is not going to be given a starting role for every game.
He added: "I want to play every game but I know that isn’t going to happen. My body probably won’t allow me to play as many times as my mind wants me to play.
"I am 33 — 34 in February — and as you get older you have to accept that you are not going to be playing all the time, Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday, throughout the season.
"I just want to make sure that I am as fit as possible to play when required and contribute as much as I can. I have spoken to the gaffer about this and he has said he will use me in certain games and also give me a rest at times.”
The fact that Scotland and fellow countryman Carlos Edwards — the club skipper will be 34 in October — are the most senior members of Paul Jewell’s squad is certainly not lost on him.
He added: "We know we are the most experienced players and we will both be looking to help instil a winning mentality into the younger guys.”