Town newcomer Aaron Drinan admits he is flattered to have been nicknamed Murph — after former favourite Daryl Murphy — by his new team-mates.
Republic of Ireland international Murphy, now with Nottingham Forest, netted 67 league goals for Town during three loan spells and a permanent stint at Portman Road before a £3 million move to Newcastle in the August 2016 transfer window.
Nineteen-year-old Drinan said: "We might have a few similarities but I play a bit differently to him. I’m my own player but if I can have as good a career as he’s had I’ll be happy. I’ll be doing well to follow what he’s done.
"When you think what he’s done in the game and the career he’s had, I’m taking the nickname as a compliment.
"I guess it shows I’ve done well in training. He also played for Waterford and I can see why people might think we’re similar, but I have different bits to my game than him. When they started calling me Murph it was good banter and helped to ease me into the training here.”
Asked what Town fans can expect of him Drinan added: "I think I can hold the ball up and lay it off, and also make the runs in behind the opposition defence.
"I think the fans can expect to see me doing that, plus another strong point is that I’m good in the air. I’m also quick and can use both feet.”
Drinan is also delighted to have another Republic international, David McGoldrick, as a team-mate at Portman Road. He added: "David is great in training and from what I’ve seen of him on match days. I’m already picking up bits of his game.
"Having seen him playing for Ireland and also on television it’s a bit strange to be out there training with him but I’m used to it now, having been here since October. It’s the same with the rest of the lads.
"I’ve always known about David and how he plays from seeing him on television. He’s very well known in Ireland and I’ve looked at him very closely when I’ve seen him.
"You pick up bits and pieces from different players but I wouldn’t say we are similar types — not yet anyway. I see myself more as a number nine than a number ten.”
Drinan has joined for a modest fee from Waterford, signing a contract through to 2021, and is hoping boss Mick McCarthy — the only Championship manage to give four teenagers a place in his starting line-up this season — will give him a similar opportunity in the not too distant future.
He added: "I know what I have to do. I have to work hard in training and keep doing that, then hopefully I will get my chance and I’ll need to be ready to take it when it comes.
"The way I’ve done in training tells me I’m ready for Championship football but I suppose only time will tell. We’re in a great position to kick on and from where we are now I think we’ll only keep moving up the table.
"One of my ambitions, apart from making a success of my move to Ipswich, is to play for my country at senior level. It has always been one of my main aims to become an Irish international and hopefully it will come, but first of all I have to do well here.”
Drinan was previously with Cork City, who won the League of Ireland Premier Division title last season, and moved to Waterford in time to help them win the second tier crown. He said: "I was training with Cork’s first team but I didn’t really have a chance to get in the side so I left to join Waterford.
"I was playing regularly there and helped them to win the First Division title and I played enough games to get a winner’s medal.
"When I was training with the Cork first team I was scoring goals and doing well, so I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t get a chance. But Sean Maguire [now with Preston North End] was unbelievable at Cork and he was getting recognised at international level as well, so it was hard to get in the team ahead of him.
"I jumped at the chance to move to Waterford because I knew I was good enough to go into their first team and start playing, which I did.”
Drinan has also settled in quickly at Town, explaining: "As soon as I came over everything was sorted for me. They have looked after me really well and it has been easy for me to settle in.
"I’m living with Flynn Downes and Ben Morris, and they’ve been great ever since I moved into the digs.
"They’ve been helping to look after me and we’ve got a lot in common, all looking to push on and play in the first team on a regular basis.
"The senior players have been great with me too. All the usual stuff, like the dressing room banter, has been good.”