Former Blues loanee Ryan Fraser says he added to his game during his year at Town. The 22-year-old AFC Bournemouth wideman made 15 starts and six sub appearances, scoring six times, in an injury-hit spell at Portman Road.
Fraser made his Premier League debut for the Cherries on Sunday as they lost 1-0 at West Ham.
"It was massive," the Scotland U21 international told BBC Radio Solent. "I've spent years trying to get to this point in my career and hopefully there's more to come at this level."
Fraser’s spell with the Blues was interrupted first by a knee injury in September, which kept him out of action until January, and was then ended by a hamstring problem suffered at QPR in February.
"The recovery was hard," he added. "I was supposed to be out for just four weeks following the second injury, but it ended up being five months.
"I pushed things a bit too soon as I wanted to play more games. But it was a different side of football compared to Bournemouth.
"It was nitty-gritty and I picked up different bits that helped my game. I've seen changes and the gaffer's seen changes too."
Town boss Mick McCarthy revealed earlier in the summer that he had enquired whether Fraser might be available for loan during 2016/17 but was told Bournemouth had no plans to send him out for a further spell.