He’s one of the strikers that Championship defenders fear most but Town’s Tommy Smith insists he is eager to face Jordan Rhodes when Blackburn come to Portman Road this evening.
With both teams poised on the 23-point mark and keen to edge closer to the play-off zone the pair’s duel could go a long way towards deciding the outcome.
They just happen to be the best of pals, a friendship that first blossomed in their youth team days at Portman Road still going strong despite the distance between their respective clubs.
Smith said: "I speak to Jordan quite regularly. It’s always nice to come up against your mates. I think it adds that extra bit of edge to a game.
"When I was coming over on trial from New Zealand I used to get on well with Jordan and also Jack Ainsley from that age group. We were quite close and it was a bit of a change for me when he left.
"I was at a bit of a loose end, not knowing what to do in the afternoons any more. But things move on in football and you have to get on with it. You can be friends off the pitch but as soon as you cross that white line you’re trying to get the three points for your team.”
This will be Rhodes’ first return since he left to join Huddersfield in July 2009, although he netted the only goal when the sides met at Ewood Park in February and he also has good cause to remember that occasion because he was left with a broken nose following an aerial clash with his best pal.
Smith added: "You are willing to do whatever it takes to get the points but I’m not saying I broke his nose on purpose. You’ve got to treat them as enemies when you’re on the pitch.
"It wasn’t so much him, it was more his girlfriend who gave me a bit of abuse — all light-hearted of course. He understood that those things happen — he knew I didn’t do it on purpose — and I’ve also broken my nose a few times.
Battling at Ewood Park last season
"It’s just something that happens in football. We were going up for a header and I jumped earlier than him. I think I’ve caught him coming back down and unfortunately for him it’s put his nose out of place. Like I say, those things happen.”
Smith was as surprised as the Town supporters that then manager Roy Keane was willing to allow Rhodes, a prolific marksman in his youth and reserve team days, to move on.
But he said: "There are always going to be ‘what ifs’ about all the players that have left and gone on to do well but at the time the manager’s obviously thought he had better options.
"So be it — they move on and their careers move on as well. Jordan’s done really well.”
Town are also likely to come up against another striker they know well in DJ Campbell, last season’s leading scorer as a result of the 10 goals he scored during a loan spell from QPR, who joined Rovers on a free transfer in the summer.
Smith added: "DJ was fantastic for us. His goals probably saved us from relegation. They put us on a good run last season and we’re indebted to him for that but he will know that we’ll be looking to stop him and that goes for Jordan as well.”
Meanwhile, striker Tom Winter has undergone an ankle operation. The 18-year-old was one of the five academy graduates to sign a one-year professional deal in the summer.
Elsewhere, former Blues loan striker David Healy, 34, has announced his retirement. Northern Ireland legend Healy scored once in five starts and seven sub appearances at the end of the 2009/10 season.
Another ex-Town striker, 31-year-old Richard Logan, has joined Ryman Division One North Needham Market on non-contract terms.