Aaron Cresswell has leapt to the defence of Ipswich colleague Lee Martin, often a target for fans’ criticism during his time at Portman Road.
But according to Cresswell the former Manchester United winger, whose four-year deal expires at the end of the current campaign, is one of the club’s most valuable assets.
The pair have regularly joined forces on the left of the Town side, although Celtic loanee Daryl Murphy has also lined up there and has started the last two games in the wide midfield role with Martin absent due to a hamstring injury.
Cresswell said: "They are different types but they have both shown they are capable of doing a great job for the team.
"Lee is more energetic but whoever is in front of me on the left we just go out to work hard and do the best we can for the team.
"Personally, I think Lee Martin is one of our best players but, obviously, some fans see it differently. He was unlucky with his miss in the Bristol game but if you look at the stats he does the most running of any player in our team and he’s also got the most assists.
"Alright, sometimes his crossing might not be the best — but that could apply to me, Carlos, Bradley, Stears or whoever is playing in the wide positions, because we don’t always get it right. But all things considered I believe Lee is one of our most important players.”
Cresswell confirmed that in his role as a left-back, which often sees him surging forward to supplement Town attacks, his priority is to help keep things tight at the back.
He added: "First and foremost — and Stears would say the same — our job is to defend. I’d always take a clean sheet before a goal, unless it’s to win the game of course.
"We are defenders and if we get forward to score goals or provide assists that’s a bonus. Stears didn’t look out of place against Middlesbrough last week and settled in brilliantly. It was a fantastic debut by him and he loved the clean sheet as much as any of us.”