Town new boy Kieffer Moore is itching to kick-start his career and make the most of his big chance at Portman Road.
Moore, 24, has joined on an 18-month deal but is not in the squad for tonight’s FA Cup third round replay at Lincoln because he played for former club Forest Green Rovers in an earlier round of the competition.
The 6ft 5in tall striker wants to take full advantage of a second chance to establish himself at Championship level, having joined Yeovil in 2013 when they were in the second tier before leaving two years later, by which time they had dropped down two levels to League Two.
Torquay-born Moore said: "I first heard about Ipswich being interested in me about a week ago. It was a surprise, a really good one.
"Then it really started kicking in about four days ago — that’s when the wheels were being set in motion and the deal got done, which I’m very thankful for.
"I had received a couple of calls from other Football League teams and when I heard Mick had contacted my agency I was buzzing.
"My first thought was ‘What an opportunity for me to get back in the Championship!’ Thankfully, the deal got done and here I am, really excited and ready to get going.”
Town boss Mick McCarthy advised his new signing not to dwell on anything being said about him on social media, fearing that the club’s first deal of the transfer window could trigger some disparaging comments.
But Moore couldn’t resist a brief look at what was being said and added: "I did take on board the gaffer’s advice but you need to have a thick skin.
"To be fair, I’ve had some very nice people message me, saying ‘Well done, looking forward to seeing you play.’ That sort of thing helps to give you confidence.”
McCarthy remembered Moore as a half-time substitute in Town’s 1-0 win at Yeovil in March 2014 when he came close to claiming a late equaliser. The player laughed: "That was definitely a surprise, when I heard that had stuck in the back of the gaffer’s mind.
"I must have done something right in that game. I think the fact that I hit the post in the last few seconds obviously stuck in his mind. It stuck in mine as well because I wanted to score that goal!”
One of his team-mates at Yeovil, albeit briefly, was current Town loanee Tom Lawrence, on loan at the time from Manchester United. Moore added: "I’m looking forward to playing alongside Tom again.
"It’s the way Tom carries himself. You can see how good he is on the ball and that if you give him a yard of space he’ll shoot. He’s got a great ability to shoot and he’s a good crosser of the ball, which will hopefully help me.”