Versatility is a great asset to any player — and play-anywhere Town man Grant Ward is a great example of someone equally adept in more than one role within the team.
A number of Mick McCarthy’s squad have proved their worth in different positions but Ward has demonstrated his adaptability on a number of occasions since his £500,000 arrival from Tottenham in the summer of 2016, having progressed through the North Londoners' academy.
He did it again at Millwall on Tuesday, providing two assists from a central midfield role to help Town to an eventful 4-3 win, but Ward revealed it is nothing new for him. He said: "There was a point when I was at Spurs that I was the main utility man and I seemed to play everywhere.
"You know how you might be asked to fill in somewhere and you actually play well? That started to happen to me and I even had a spell, for about a year, of playing left-back.
"Obviously, I’m not left-footed but I just played well there and kept being picked. I’m comfortable at wing-back, as a winger, in central midfield, up top, most places. I’ve even played centre-back a few times — maybe you should edit that out in case the gaffer reads it!”
Ward has played a prominent part in Town’s tremendous start to the new campaign, although he missed the trip to Barnsley last week through injury, and he added: "It has been a good start but it’s still early doors and we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves. We’ll just try to keep going.
"But it’s great for confidence and right from the off it’s a big improvement on last season. It’s all very positive at the minute.”
The ex-Tottenham player would like nothing more than to continue in a central midfield role, either as one of two in a 4-2-2 formation or as one of three if manager McCarthy decides to revert to the 3-5-2 system that he may decide is preferable for Saturday’s challenge that comes in the shape of Brentford’s visit to Portman Road.
Ward said: "I’ve played in a middle two a number of times so it’s a position I’m comfortable with. I was happy to play there at Millwall and I thought I did well. Obviously, there were some things I felt I could have done better but overall I was happy.
"I’m happy to play there but I’m happy to play anywhere. I do like it in the centre because I feel I can be a bit more influential in there.
"With Cole Skuse alongside me I know what I can do. Skusey’s game is to sit, although he does get forward every now and then, so it gives me licence to get forward.
"He’s good to play with because his game allows me the opportunity to get forward and try to create something.
"I’d like to make that my position but I wouldn’t really mind if I was asked to play wide. I played there when I was younger so I’m comfortable there as well but I’d like to bed down in the centre of midfield.
"There is a lot of competition in there, or there will be when all the midfield players are fit and well again. But I don’t mind the competition — in fact it’s good to have that because it gets you going in training and helps to make you a better player.
"The manager is very fair because if you are doing the business he will stand by you. At the same time, though, if you don’t put in the hard work in training and in games you shouldn’t be surprised if you lose your place.”