Bersant Celina can continue to be a game-changer for Town, according to goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski, after the Manchester City loanee’s last minute freekick earned all three points at struggling Burton at the weekend.
Town are at high-flying Cardiff tomorrow night and it will be interesting to see if manager Mick McCarthy felt Celina did enough to secure a place in the starting line-up down in Wales or whether he will once again have to settle for a place on the bench.
Bialkowski said: "Bersant is a very technical player, very skilful, and we all know he is good at set pieces. He has put a few past me in training and he reminds me a bit of Tom Lawrence the way he strikes the ball. He can really strike it and it’s crazy how much it moves.
"We’re pleased to have him here and he showed on Saturday what he can do. There are other players who are good from freekicks and if Didzy [David McGoldrick] had been on the pitch he would have taken it. He might have scored as well.
"I gave Bersant a big hug at the end and we were all pleased for him. He’s a great lad and I just said to him ‘I knew you were going to score’. I just had a feeling and I was delighted for him because he has been working really hard. He could be a game-changer, if you like.
"The gaffer said afterwards that it wasn’t the game for him from the start, but when he came on he made a big difference. He is so skilful and the tricks he has are unbelievable. He’s pacy, he’s got all the skills, he has a great strike, so he can be a real game-changer for us.
"He’s a confident young man but you have to be confident in your ability. There’s more to come from him, I’m absolutely sure of that. He’s still young and he has plenty of belief in himself.”
Meanwhile, Bialkowski insists he is not even thinking about a new contract at Portman Road, despite the fact that his current deal is set to expire in the summer, although the club have an option to extend his stay by a further 12 months.
He added: "I’m just trying to stay focused on my job here at Ipswich and let’s see what happens. As a footballer you want security, especially when you are feeling loved at the club you are with and the area where you live.
"I’ve said it a million times that me and my family all love it here in Ipswich so let’s just wait and see what happens.
"I just need to look after my family, think about them, my wife and kids. It’s about what makes them happy and how any move away from Ipswich would make things change for them. They have friends here and I’m a family guy so it’s family first, always.”
Nor is the uncertainty over McCarthy’s position, the manager recently hinting that he might opt to move on when his own deal runs out in June, causing Bialkowski any sleepless nights.
He said: "I just want to concentrate on the football. I’m not thinking about what might happen in a year’s time or so. Whatever happens, happens. It’s not up to me to talk about signing a new contract because it is up to the owner. If we finish the season on a high note I’m sure the gaffer will carry on as the manager of Ipswich.
"As players we don’t sit in the dressing room talking about the manager’s future. We really don’t talk about it, not at all. I’m not in a position to talk about it really and I don’t want to talk about it because it’s not up to me what happens.”