New Town signing Paul Green is amazed at how easily — and quickly — he has settled into the Portman Road routine.
Green only met his new team-mates on the eve of last week’s 2-2 draw at Barnsley and was immediately named on the bench at Oakwell by manager Mick McCarthy.
He was introduced as a 74th minute replacement for fellow midfielder Jay Tabb after Town went 2-0 down but helped to inspire a late comeback that saw McCarthy’s men drag themselves level.
There might even have been more for Green to celebrate because he was close to becoming the match-winning hero when his late effort was cleared off the line.
Green said: "The ball came pretty quickly to me and I was just thinking ‘Keep it down’. Although I did that and hit the target their lad blocked it on the line. It would have been some start to my Ipswich career if that had gone in.
"It was all a bit of a whirlwind really. I turned up at the hotel on the Friday night and that was the first time I had met the lads. Then I got 20 minutes under my belt the next day. I was a bit surprised to be on the bench, never mind get my debut.
"I didn’t know what to expect but luckily I brought my boots just in case they were needed. It was good to get a run-out, especially as we got it back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 and might even have nicked it at the end.”
Green was last in action for Leeds in their 3-1 defeat at one of his former clubs, Derby County, on October 5th last year, so he is delighted to be playing again.
He added: "I’ve now got a full week’s training under my belt and it’s been good. The lads have got me involved straight away and I’m enjoying my stay down here.
"It was brilliant to be involved at Barnsley. I hadn’t played for a bit and it was just nice to get a bit of game time.
"The only player I knew was Stephen Hunt, from our time together with the Republic of Ireland. I only know the others from playing against them but they have all been great to me and got me involved straight away.
"It’s like I’ve been down here for months really. The only thing is that on the next away trip I’m going to have to do an initiation song and I’m not the best of singers — but I’m sure I can produce something.”
Photo: ITFC