Midfielder Teddy Bishop is adamant that Town can sustain an automatic promotion challenge in the new season that is just over a week away.
Mick McCarthy’s men complete their pre-season programme with a visit to Portman Road tomorrow from Belgian second tier side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, with the first Championship game at home to Barnsley seven days later.
The bookies don’t appear to rate Town’s chances of claiming a top-two slot and there are even some supporters reluctant to back them for a play-off place, although despite losing their way towards the end of last season they still finished just one place outside the top six.
Bishop, 20, said: "The top two is achievable if we put our minds to it. We just need the consistency to go with the team spirit and hopefully we can do well.
"We’ve got a light squad but we’re all talented and I think we’ve got a great squad. Altogether, all the lads say it is the best squad they’ve been involved in. We’re all close, we all do stuff away from the football and we’re ready to go.”
The young midfielder is relishing a fresh start after a series of hamstring injuries interrupted his progress last season and he is anxious to recapture the impressive form that accompanied his promotion to the Town first team almost a couple of years ago.
Bishop recalled that period and added: "I fitted in well and all the boys helped me. Obviously I played well but it was to do with the boys around me that I had such a good season.
"I was used to a jump up in standard because I went straight from the U18s to the U21s quickly. I didn’t really play a lot of U18s football so that was a step up.
"Then it was a case of getting used to this set-up but you are playing with better players at the end of the day so they help you through it. It’s not like you step up on your own because you step up to better players and they helped me a lot.
"They all bring something different and I try to pick up little bits from all of them. They have made me a better player already.
"And because I’m no longer the youngster in the squad it’s good for me. I can go under the radar, just do my thing and give it out to the younger ones as well!”
Bishop has no qualms about being asked to play on the right of midfield and has featured there in several pre-season games.
He said: "I’m enjoying it. From a young age I’ve liked to run with the ball. Maybe I was a little bit greedy when I was younger but I’ve always liked to run at opponents and excite the crowd.
"The gaffer’s not said to me ‘Go out on the right wing and beat five men’. It’s more like I’ve got licence to roam and go into the little pockets. I can roam around so it’s a really good position for me I think.
"I’ve played there before — I remember Fulham away in my first season — so I’m familiar with it.
"I just need to learn more about the defensive side of it but that will all come. The more games I play there, the more comfortable I will feel.
"It’s just great to be back and fully fit again. I feel sharp and I’ve obviously learned a lot, so I just want to get out there for the first game of the season and see what we can do this season. I feel reborn now.”