Loan signing Frazer Richardson admits it’s not going to be easy for him to break into manager Mick McCarthy’s starting line-up. Currently Luke Chambers is a regular fixture in his preferred right-back slot.
The 31-year-old, on loan from Middlesbrough for the remainder of the season, made his debut as a late sub during Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Bolton, having watched the 2-0 win against Reading from the stand and the 1-1 draw at Leeds from the bench.
Richardson, who launched his career with the Whites, said: "I was thinking it is going to be tough. The boys have defended ever so well, especially the second half against Reading when I thought they were outstanding.
"Then they went up to Elland Road, which is never an easy place to go — as I should know — on a Tuesday night and they worked ever so hard. You could see the team spirit was there. They were just unfortunate to concede quite a late penalty. Overall, things definitely look good.
"My aim is to get out there and play but first and foremost I have to work as hard as I can in training and see where we go from there. I know I can’t expect to walk straight into the side.
"The manager went through all that with me and I just said ‘Give me a chance and I’ll try to prove myself and get in the team. Whatever you want from me I’ll give to try to help the team towards that ambition of promotion’.
"Right now we’re standing in a very good position. We’re only four points short of the play-off places and it just takes teams to slip up and us to win and the gap is down to one, and then it really gets interesting. It’s just about taking each game as it comes and trying to get the three points out of them.”
Richardson, who will be a free agent in the summer, admitted Ipswich was his first and only option after Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka made it clear he was free to leave on loan.
But he added: "I have always been a big admirer of Mick’s throughout his career and we have spoken quite a few times over the years. I know he’s always had a kind of interest in me. As soon as he gave me the call I was desperate to come.
"I believe he came in for me when he was at Sunderland and I was playing for Leeds and then again when he was manager of Wolves.
"But players’ careers have lots of different turns, don’t they? I’m really enjoying it here, the lads have been great and I’ve settled in quite quickly.”