Winger Danny Rowe is hoping for further first-team involvement in the final two games of the season having made his full debut for Town during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Rotherham.
With nothing riding on the match - the Millers were relegated some weeks ago and Town secured their Championship status with last Monday’s 3-1 victory over Newcastle - manager Mick McCarthy fielded a number of his fringe players at the New York Stadium, making nine changes.
McCarthy says he'll revert to a stronger line-up for next week's final home match against Sheffield Wednesday and away against relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on the final day, if that match also has something riding on it.
Rowe, 25, was pleased to make his first start for Town, having previously appeared as a late sub at Cardiff after signing from Vanarama National League Macclesfield in January, but was unhappy to have been on the losing side.
"It was good to get out on the pitch and make my full debut but I’m a bit disappointed with the end result,” Rowe, who impressed McCarthy with his display, told Ipswich Player HD.
"I didn’t think there was much in the game, it was a bit scrappy, but we had chances that we didn’t take and they took theirs and they won.
"I found out I was playing on Friday when we worked on our shape. I know [manager McCarthy] made a few changes but you’ve just got to be ready any time, it doesn’t matter how many changes are made. I thought we were unlucky with the loss.”
Rowe felt he might have got on the scoresheet himself, going closest when Rotherham keeper Richard O’Donnell made an impressive save from his strike not long before the break and in the second half when he curled a shot just wide.
"I was unlucky with chances, I had about four or five shots,” he continued. "I think I should have done better with one or two of them but I’m hoping the more I play, the more it comes, the more I’ll score and get involved.”
Rowe says it has taken him a little while to get up to speed having joined the club with a groin problem.
"I came with an injury which didn’t help and set me back a few weeks,” he continued.
"It took me a couple of weeks to get into the rhythm, to get up to the pace, training’s at a high intensity, but now I feel strong and sharp. I’m glad to have made my debut but just a bit gutted about the result.”
He added: ”I just need to keep pushing now and hopefully I'll be involved again before the end of the season.”
Meanwhile, Town’s U23s play their final game of the campaign against Coventry City at Portman Road this evening (KO 7pm).