Former favourite Alan Lee refuses to rule out the possibility of returning to action for Town — even if he admits his chances are slim.
The 35-year-old former Republic of Ireland international is back at Portman Road, where he netted 34 times in 109 appearances after then boss Joe Royle signed him from Cardiff City in January 2006.
He left for Crystal Palace in August 2008 and then - after a brief but controversial loan spell at Norwich - went on to play for Huddersfield, who released him at the end of last season.
Lee has re-joined Town as an academy coach but has also been signed by boss Mick McCarthy on a non-contract basis, leaving the door open to a possible first team return.
But with strikers David McGoldrick, Daryl Murphy, Frank Nouble and Paul Taylor, as well as academy graduate Jack Marriott, all vying for places Lee accepts his opportunities appear remote.
He said: "I realise there are far better players ahead of me and I have been impressed with their quality. But I realise I can maybe help with my experience and maybe I offer something different playing-wise.”
Lee could not conceal his delight at being welcomed back into the Town fold, adding: "I feel absolutely blessed the way everything has worked out and I am so grateful for the opportunity to do my coaching education.
"Now I’m also registered as a player I might get a chance to be used as a bit of cover. It’s so good to be back. I’m so happy.
"Did I expect to be registered as a player? No, not initially. I had options to carry on playing but that was elsewhere.
"It wasn’t injury or anything that stopped me signing for another club. It was time to get back home.
"We had just had our first child and I really wasn’t ready to move to another part of the country again.
"So we said ‘That’s it, let’s up sticks and get back down to Suffolk’. The opportunity arose and it has worked out.
"We have colonised Suffolk. My brother lives down here with his wife and works in London, and my mum and dad are living here as well.”