Ipswich new boy Anthony Wordsworth is determined to claim — and then hold down — a first team place at Portman Road.
But he knows he might have to wait for his full debut because of his recent inactivity with former club Colchester, caused by a two-week ban served earlier this month and delayed by the Arctic weather.
Wordsworth said: "The gaffer has told me he wants me to train hard and we’ll see what happens. We’ll take it step by step. I haven’t played for three weeks because of being suspended so we’ll just see how it goes.
"I’m a player who looks to create things and get in the box. I have a good goalscoring record. People say I’m deadly from set pieces and hopefully I can prove that here.
"There are a lot of good left-footed players in the team — I’ve seen that in training — and I’m hoping I can get a few goals.”
Wordsworth knows all about manager Mick McCarthy’s demands regarding good, honest endeavour and added: "Hard work is a given, really.
"You have to give everything and if you’re not doing that in training you won’t even get the chance to play. I’ve got to get my fitness levels up to Championship standard so I’ll be working hard in training to try to get there.
"The quality is obviously a lot better. Some of these players have played in the Premier League with some top players. The tempo is a lot quicker and it’s a lot harder so you have to get your fitness up.
"I felt it was just a matter of time before a chance like this came along. Saying that, it’s been difficult to get here, but now that I am hopefully I can get a place in the team and keep it.”