Mick McCarthy’s description of Aaron Cresswell as the best left-back in the Championship has understandably gone down well with the player. But the 23-year-old is not the type to overreact to his manager singing his praises and accepts he is still some way short of being the finished article.
Cresswell said: "For someone of Mick McCarthy’s experience and know-how to say something like that was a massive compliment. I thank him for that.
"But I know there’s still plenty of room for improvement. Even with the best in the world, people like Messi and Ronaldo, it’s the same. I’m just happy to be at the right place, working with the gaffer and TC to improve and progress as a player.”
Not even the constant speculation regarding his future, which suggests it is only a matter of time before he is rubbing shoulders with the top talent in the Premier League, has an effect on level-headed Cresswell.
He added: "I just keep my head and down. It’s not for me to decide so I just leave it to Ipswich, whatever other clubs might be interested and my agent.
"My job is just to keep my head down and play my football. It’s nice to hear that maybe clubs in the Premier League are looking at you but I just prefer to concentrate on playing.
"Do I want to play in the Premier League? Of course I do and there isn’t a player out there who doesn’t want to play there or at the highest level possible.
"It’s just the same for me and every player at Ipswich. But I love it down here and I’ve just got to keep working hard and keep going. I haven’t heard a thing about any approaches for me.
"Getting to the Premier League with Ipswich would be killing two birds with one stone. To get promotion with Ipswich and obviously play in the Premier League — that would be a perfect ambition for me to achieve.
"And why can’t we do it next season, or even this season? I’m still only 23 and I’ve still — hopefully — got 10 years in the game but if we were to get there sooner rather than later that would be perfect.”
Meanwhile, the FAI have confirmed U21 boss Noel King as caretaker-manager of the Republic of Ireland while a permanent successor to Giovanni Trapattoni is sought.