The league table may suggest otherwise but Jonny Williams believes the current Town squad is better than it was during the most recent of his three previous loan spells with the club.
Williams is on a season-long loan from Crystal Palace, the fourth time boss Mick McCarthy has signed him temporarily, and he said: "It’s a really good blend here, better than the last time I was at the club because it’s a real mix of young talent coming through and the experienced players like Chambo and Bez, who are still here.
"They are really good leaders and it’s a shame Murph has gone because I really enjoyed playing with him. Now there’s Besty [Leon Best] and he holds the ball up well.
"It’s good to play off a big man for the likes of me, Didzy, Searsy and Tom [Lawrence] because we’re all good technical players and it can only benefit me.”
Asked where he feels he features in McCarthy’s plans, fit-again Williams added: "Ideally, I’d like to be central. I think that’s where you are going to get the best out of me.
"Not necessarily pinned in the number 10 position but with freedom to come wider and roam, as long as I know my defensive duties off the ball like getting back into shape and helping the team out.
"I think he wants me to get the ball and show people what I can do. I’ll play wherever he wants me to play, tucked in wide or in the middle I would imagine.
"If I play my usual game of getting on the ball and running at the defence — that’s pretty much what I do — I feel I can add something.
"I don’t really look to go backwards. I’m a link man in a way, looking to take us from defence to attack.
"I’m looking forward to linking up with the forwards because we haven’t scored many goals lately and it’s clearly something we need to improve upon.”
Williams arrived at Portman Road towards the end of the summer transfer window with an ankle injury sustained in a pre-season game but he is so sure that he is fully fit again that he has declared himself ready to start tomorrow’s visit from basement club Rotherham.
He explained: "I’ve had the two sub appearances at Blackburn and Newcastle and I feel good.
"I’ve also been in some tough tackles in the U23 games I’ve played so I feel I can go straight back into the Championship to play with freedom and express myself without holding back.
"I can see it being a tough game against Rotherham. I think they will be pressing our defence and I imagine it will be two teams going for a win.
"To be honest we both need a win and I think we will come out on top if the game plan is right and we put in the sort of performance of which we are capable.
"Leon Best and David McGoldrick are both looking to play and they know each other quite well. They are both big lads and while Didzy is very skilful Besty has also shown he has plenty of skill to take on defences, to go with his ability to hold the ball up.
"It will be a nice blend with Searsy coming in off the left or the right as well. With players coming back from injury it gives the manager more options to pick what he feels is the best team to go out and win on Saturday.”