Town striker Luke Varney is loving life right now, even if he is facing an uncertain future at Portman Road with his short-term contract due to expire next month.
Varney, 34, is not doing his prospects of a new deal through to the end of the season any harm after recently regaining a place in manager Mick McCarthy’s starting line-up.
He also marked his first start of the season against QPR with a goal in a convincing 3-0 win and held on to his place for last week’s visit to Bristol City that resulted in a 2-0 defeat.
The experienced striker said: "I must admit it’s been great to have that routine again of looking forward to the games and looking after myself through the week. Nothing beats being part of the team but even when I wasn’t featuring I was still working hard.
"Thankfully, the gaffer said I was looking sharp in training and decided to give me a chance. I’m delighted and hopefully it will continue.
"You don’t like to say it but I did feel like I was getting somewhere near to being in the side. Results weren’t great at the time and I was hoping I’d get a shot. I wouldn’t say I was surprised but it’s always great to get the nod.”
Varney isn’t bothered that his second goal of the season — his first was enough to earn a 1-0 win at one of his former clubs, Derby, in September — came about as a result of a clear error of judgement by Rangers’ goalkeeper Alex Smithies.
He laughed: "I don’t mind the freebies — I’ll take them all day long — and I enjoyed the game. I understand my role in the team, to be a bit more physical up front and let the guys with finesse — Didzy and Searsy for example — work off that.
"I’ve enjoyed my minutes and I’d love it to continue but if I’m on the bench I’ll give my all when I get on.
"That’s always what I’ve been asked to do. I must admit that I thought we all played well against QPR and we all enjoyed it. We need to get back to those individual performances and we’ll get more results like that.”
Town have yet to record back-to-back wins this season, which has added to fans’ frustrations, and Varney added: "That’s the most disappointing thing about recent weeks. We had a great result at Sheffield Wednesday then followed it with a home defeat by Nottingham Forest, then we won at home against QPR and lost our next game at Bristol City.
"We’re trying really hard to put our fingers on why it’s like that. We’ve all stuck together but it would just be nice to put a couple of wins together to sort of, not take a bit of pressure off but get into a routine of enjoying wins.
"When I came off the pitch at the end of the win over QPR it was lovely to see the home fans with a smile on their faces again.
"There was a great buzz around the camp as well and after losing at Bristol City it was a bit the other way. But we’ve had a good week in training and hopefully we can not only put in a good home performance against Cardiff but also get the three points.”
McCarthy has hinted that there might be a longer contract on offer next month and Varney makes no effort to conceal what it would mean to stay on board for the remainder of the current campaign.
He said: "When I got injured in the play-off game against Norwich I was looking at signing a two-year deal and instead found myself out for six months.
"Things can happen so quickly and I know it’s a cliché but I’m just taking it day by day at the minute. But if I get the call I’d be delighted to stay.
"Ipswich have been brilliant for me, the way they looked after me when I got injured and got me fit again. They didn’t have to do that. I felt obliged to get fit and couldn’t wait to get the shirt back on again.
"I still feel like I owe the club in some way and hopefully, if I can continue to put in good performances and be good for the lads off the pitch, we can go forward and I’ll stay as long as possible.”