x

Graham Aiming to Get Back to His Best With Blues - Ipswich Town News

Town loanee Jordan Graham is excited about the prospect of playing regularly, something he was unable to do during his first temporary stint at the club five years ago.

Graham was just 18 when previous manager Mick McCarthy signed him on loan from Aston Villa in November 2013 and he only made two substitute appearances in the Championship — both wins — before returning to the Midlands at the end of the following month.

The Coventry-born winger did not appear at for Wolves after they signed him on loan late in 2014 but it did not prevent them from snapping him up on a full-time basis in January 2015, his potential not yet fully realised because of a serious knee injury he sustained 12 months later and which kept him sidelined for more than a year before he was able to make his comeback.

His Molineux contract was up in the summer but newly-promoted Wolves triggered a two-year extension clause that could keep him there until the summer of 2020, although Graham’s immediate thoughts are concentrated on nothing but trying to make an impact during his time with Town over the remainder of the current campaign.

Graham, 23, agreed it was a boost that Wolves wanted to retain his services and added: "I think the people at Wolves are quite fond of my ability when I’m able to play regularly and I’m enjoying my football.

"It has been tough with my knee injury but they have always been really supportive of me and they have really looked after me well.

"Throughout my rehab — I was out for about 14 months — they stuck by me and got me anything I needed. I think they just want me to get back to playing the type of football I was playing before the injury.

"It’s quite tough to do that at Wolves with all the changes that have taken place and with them being promoted back to the Premier League. Coming here, and hopefully playing regularly, will help me to get back to that level and will be really good for me.

"It has been massive, the changes at Wolves, and it’s kind of similar to what’s happening here. From where it was under Paul Lambert, for example, to where it is now under the new manager, staff and players, I can see similarities here.

"There are so many new players and I was told I was the 10th new signing this summer. There are new staff with new ideas as well and it’s never really going to click straight away.

"Even if you look at Manchester City and their first season under Pep Guardiola, it was tough to get things going. As we all get to know each other better it will gel and it could be a really positive season.

"Wolves just want me to get back to playing football again and enjoying it. It’s been quite a tough couple of years for me and there hasn’t been much enjoyment in that time.

"I was doing really well before I got such a severe injury, which knocked it out of me for quite a while.

"I also want to be enjoying football and recapturing my love for it again. Coming here is the first part of achieving that. It has been difficult but Wolves know me and they know I play my best football when I’m happy.

"I find it hard when I’m not enjoying the environment I’m in. Being here with a few familiar faces that I know quite well and getting back to training and working hard, hopefully playing week in and week out, my best football will come back and everything will be alright again.”

What to read next:

Town Women Sign New Zealand International
Ipswich Town Women have announced their third signing of the day, New Zealand international right-back Grace Neville, who was previously with WSL new girls London City Lionesses.
Edwards: The Ball's in Hackney's Court
Middlesbrough manager Rob Edwards says the ball is in Hayden Hackney’s court as to whether the midfielder joins the Blues or stays with the Teessiders.
Town Women Sign Midfielder Dear
Ipswich Town Women have signed midfielder Jenna Dear following her release by fellow WSL2 side Sunderland at the end of last season.
Blues Target Guiu Closing in On Sunderland Loan
Blues target Marc Guiu is closing in on a loan move to newly promoted Premier League Sunderland.
Town Women Sign Full-Back Roe
Ipswich Town Women have signed full-back Bethan Roe following her exit from fellow WSL2 side Charlton Athletic.
Town-Norwich Derby Live on ITV
Town’s East Anglian derby against Norwich City will be shown live on ITV as well as Sky Sports.
Townsend: We All Have to Step Up to Fill Morsy Void
Conor Townsend believes the entire Town squad will need to step up to fill the leadership void left by the departure of former club captain Sam Morsy.
Women's League Cup Group Drawn
Ipswich Town Women have been drawn in Group D of the Subway Women’s League Cup alongside Crystal Palace, Leicester City and London City Lionesses.
Saudi Club in Cajuste Talks
Former Blues loanee Jens Cajuste’s future could now be in Saudi Arabia with Neom the latest club to show interest in signing the Napoli midfielder on loan.
French Club Eyeing Al-Hamadi
Ligue 1 Toulouse are reportedly showing interest in Blues striker Ali Al-Hamadi.