Tommy Smith admits he would regard it as a huge honour if he is named supporters’ Player of the Year this weekend.
Central defender Smith, who leads the online voting, is one of the frontrunners to follow last season’s winner, Aaron Cresswell, when the votes are counted and the winner crowned at tonight’s Player Awards Evening.
He said: "Player of the Year? That would be a great honour. I’ve come up through the youth team and the fans have always been great to me. If it was to happen it would be fantastic and a real honour.
"Since Mick McCarthy came in I’ve been really happy with the way things have gone for me personally. I feel as if I have been improving with every game and I hope that continues. I would love to carry on improving.
"With the standard of coaching here there’s no reason why I can’t improve. When we get back for pre-season I’ll be working hard to improve my weaknesses — and also my strengths.
"Even towards the end of their careers players are still learning new things and I think I’ll be picking up stuff all the way through until I finish.”
Smith has been a regular choice under McCarthy and having seen his game develop over the past six months he believes he owes a debt of gratitude to the manager.
He added: "Without a doubt he has made me a better player. He was a centre-half in his day and he regularly stays out after training to do little bits with us, both as a back four and me individually at times as well. It’s been a really big help.”
But Smith could not resist poking fun at his boss, whose playing days with Barnsley, Manchester City, Celtic, Lyon, Millwall and the Republic of Ireland are long behind him.
Asked if McCarthy still has a decent first touch Smith grinned: "He doesn’t get involved too much. He’s alright, he’s not too bad, but he looks a bit stiff, that’s all.”