Town striker Freddie Sears makes no attempt to conceal his desire to have a run in his preferred role through the middle.
"That’s my position, I’m a centre-forward and I’d love to be playing 4-4-2 alongside a big man,” said Sears, who has grown accustomed to operating wide, more often on the left, and following manager Mick McCarthy’s instructions to track back and fulfil his defensive responsibilities.
"But it’s a dying art nowadays. The 4-4-2 system is no longer as popular as it once was so I’ll play where I’m selected to play and wherever the gaffer wants me to play. I’ll just get on with it.
"Playing wide is very different. I’m working a lot harder for the team and last year I had nine assists, which I’d never had before, and I picked up another one on Tuesday against Burton.
"At the end of the day I’m a striker being judged on what I do playing wide left. But that’s football and I’m happy with that. I can deal with it and hopefully I’ll be adding to the goal from the other night.”
Sears has no complaints and the backing he has received from McCarthy, who signed him from Colchester in January last year and recently emphasised he had never considered leaving him out during his 38-game spell without scoring, has been very important to him.
He added: "That gives you confidence. The gaffer’s been brilliant with me ever since I walked through the door after he brought me here almost two years ago.
"There have been times when I’ve played well and other occasions when I haven’t played well but he has kept picking me. He knew the goal would eventually come and I’ve got to start repaying the faith he has shown in me.”
Sears was asked if he was surprised at not being left out of the side and replied: "Not really, but there were times when I was thinking ‘Where am I going to play?’ One minute I’m on the right, then the left, then the centre and you even start wondering if you’re going to be on the bench.
"Sometimes we would lose and I’d think I might be left out for the next one. But the gaffer has gone on record as saying I bring something different to the team and if you asked most of the boys in the dressing room they would agree I bring a lot to the team as well.
"Whether you notice it or not I think your confidence naturally fluctuates depending on how you are doing.
"Some games you play well and in others you can be below your best but when you’re not scoring you can imagine people saying your confidence is low.
"I know I wasn’t setting the world alight but at the same time I thought I was doing alright.
"It’s a different job playing wide and I’ve not really been used to it over the years. I came here as a centre-forward and even in my time at Colchester I was a sort of lazy winger.
"The gaffer won’t let you get away with that here — you’ve got to work a lot harder and you’re helping your full-back out.
"It’s been good and I look at that side of the game and think I’ve had a real good go.
"I don’t think anyone who watches the games can say I don’t try hard or that I don’t put myself about. I’m happy with that but I’d obviously love to be playing as a centre-forward.”