Midfielder Anthony Wordsworth is working doubly hard to get back to full fitness after his recent bouts of tonsillitis, an illness which he says has affected him on several occasions in the last few years.
The 25-year-old, who joined the Blues from Colchester a year ago, is working with fitness coach Andy Liddell as he looks to add to his one start — in the home FA Cup tie against Preston earlier in the month — and two sub appearances this season.
"I’ve had two flare ups lately,” he said, speaking in an interview in next Saturday’s match programme. "One over the Christmas period and the other after the Preston game at Portman Road.
"That game brought on my second bout. They say that when you are fatigued, it can hit you. That’s what happened. I’ve been getting attacks two or three times a year over the last couple of years.
"Playing in that game definitely triggered the attack and in some ways I’m glad it did because it meant that I needed to see a specialist and could get to the bottom of what the problem was.
"In May, I’ll be having my tonsils out. Before that, I want to concentrate on getting myself fit. I’m working hard, doing two sessions a day with Lids. Hopefully after another week or two I’ll be in a better position to get some games.
"I want to be a success at Ipswich Town. I want to get my fitness up and give the manager a real problem with leaving me out.”
Speaking last week, manager Mick McCarthy said he wasn’t ruling out Wordsworth going out on loan to get games under his belt: "He’s had a long time out, so we’ll see about [whether he goes out on loan]. If he’s not going anywhere, then I want him fit to play for me.”