Loanee Massimo Luongo is convinced there are better times ahead for Ipswich based on their performances during the early part of the season.
Luongo, on a season-long loan from Tottenham, is enjoying his stay at Portman Road despite the fact that Town go into tonight’s home clash with Wolves just one place off the bottom of the Championship table.
The Sydney-born midfielder, who will be 20 on Tuesday of next week, said: "We just need to start turning the chances we create into goals. We have been playing well and knocking the ball around well — it’s just the end result that we need to do something about.”
Luongo made his first and so far only Spurs appearance last season, as a second-half substitute in a Carling Cup tie at Stoke when he had the misfortune to miss the crucial penalty in the shoot-out that separated the sides after the game ended goalless.
But he has put that disappointment behind him and is happy to be advancing his career at Ipswich, adding: "I am enjoying my football at the moment, even if our results could be better.
"Ipswich is a good club and it is a nice area. I have started six games out of seven so I couldn’t ask for much more.
"I came in knowing I would be one of the younger players. The gaffer had a word with me early on and said ‘You’re here mainly for experience so get as much out of it as you can’.
"He never said anything about starting games or walking straight into the side. I had to earn my spot just like anyone else. I think I’ve done OK but I think I can offer more and I need to come out of my shell a bit more.”
Tonight’s match is the first of two successive home games for Town — they face Charlton on Saturday — as they seek the points required to climb the table.
Luongo added: "We need to get a win from either of our home games and preferably both. We are clicking but we need to perfect it a little bit more and we could also do with a bit of luck.
"The gaffer is pushing for more of a passing game, getting the ball on the ground and trying to get in behind the opposition without using the long ball.
"But there are times when you maybe have to hit it long and we have big guys like Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Daryl Murphy who can win it for us.
"You need the different options and we have that. I don’t think it will be long before everything clicks into place for us.”