Five-goal top scorer Grant Ward has acknowledged the part that former Portman Road favourite Frank Yallop played in advancing his career.
A loan spell in the US with Major League Soccer side the Chicago Fire, where Yallop was head coach, helped the then-Tottenham teenager to bridge the gap between youth football and the senior game.
Ward, 22, said: "The move came about because Frank, who I knew had played a lot of games for Ipswich, knew my reserve coaches at Tottenham. He used to come over to the UK when his season finished for a month or so and go to see players at a few different clubs.
"He saw me playing and asked if I would be interested in going over to the States and I decided I would like to take up the opportunity. I’ll always be glad I did that because I really enjoyed it out there.
"The football was a step up from playing in the Tottenham youth and reserve teams and away from football, since I was no longer living at home, I was able to be myself and grow up a fair bit. You can be in a bit of a bubble at the academy and it was nice to get away from that.
"Some lower league clubs were also keen to take me on loan but I liked what Frank had to say about the club and wanted to try it.
"I liked America and the people were nice. The MLS is improving all the time and I might fancy going back at some point, obviously nearer the end of my career.
"I don’t think the league was as strong as it seems to be now but I still thought it was a good standard and it definitely benefited me. It’s a very physical league but it is attracting a better standard of player all the time.
"I was only about 18 at the time and the move here to Ipswich was still a long way off. When I did eventually sign for the club this year I received a few messages from Frank, who said it would be a good place for me.”
Ward knows the importance of tonight’s away clash at Birmingham, who have crashed to successive defeats for the loss of seven goals without reply, although they were unbeaten in four prior to that double disaster.
He said: "It’s very important for us because we need a win and then, if we can put a run together, we’ll be in good stead. They’re not having a great time either and if we can get on top straight away from the kick-off we might make their fans turn on them.”
Ward believes he has improved as a player since his £500,000 transfer from Tottenham in the summer and added: "I’ve been here a few months now and I feel there has been an improvement since I started working under Mick McCarthy and Terry Connor.
"I get asked about my best position but I don’t mind if I’m on the right, where I’ve played most of my games, or in the middle. I do enjoy playing in the centre, but anywhere as long as I can get on the ball really.
"I’m fine with the role I’m in at the moment. This is the Championship and wherever you are, even in the Premier League, you have to do a defensive job before you can attack. You’ve just got to make sure you’ve got a good balance.”