No sooner had Jonny Williams returned on loan to Town for a fourth time than he was admitting: “I am really excited to be back.”
The Crystal Palace and Wales international midfielder, fresh from his country’s heroics in reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2016, today completed his deadline day move on loan for the rest of the season.
Williams, who has still to fully recover from an ankle injury sustained late in the Eagles’ pre-season programme, said: "I was delighted to get it done. I’m really looking forward, hopefully, to another successful loan spell here.
"It’s a great feeling to be back because I have had some great moments here, especially in my first and second loan spells, and if it wasn’t for a couple of bad tackles who knows what would have happened. I played some of my best football under Mick and TC, so it was a no-brainer to come back here.
"Hopefully I can help this team with a few more goals and assists. I want to help them get to where they want to be, in the Premier League. The very least I’m expecting is to be in and around the play-off spots.”
Asked if he was surprised to be returning to Portman Road on loan for a fourth time, 22-year-old Williams added: "I wasn’t sure what was happening because I got injured in my last pre-season game. Obviously, loans have got to be done by the end of the transfer window and it was mentioned last week that Ipswich were interested again.
"I know what I am capable of giving Ipswich in terms of game time and I have the confidence to go and express myself. I know the manager will let me do that and hopefully I can build on my previous loan spells with some goals and assists.”
Meanwhile, a strong Town U21 side lost 2-1 to Southend United in a friendly at Playford Road this afternoon.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace winger Sullay Kaikai's season-long loan move to Brentford has been confirmed. The 21-year-old was watched by Blues boss Mick McCarthy earlier in the summer.
Claims that Kaikai was watching Town's home game against Preston last week proved to be incorrect.
Former Blues loanee Richard Stearman has rejoined his former club Wolves on a season-long loan from Fulham.