Striker Freddie Sears believes he’s hit the best form of his Town career since Paul Lambert took over as boss at Portman Road.
Despite the bottom-of-the-table Blues still being without a win in their six games under Lambert, Sears netted four times in the first four of those matches having failed to register under former manager Paul Hurst.
"On a personal note, I’ve been delighted with my recent form,” Sears told the Colchester Gazette while visiting the children’s ward at Colchester General Hospital along with team-mates Jordan Spence and Trevoh Chalobah yesterday.
"I’m playing my best football since joining Ipswich. I’m back in the team, playing regularly and scoring goals.
"Confidence is massive in football and I feel I’m playing with that at the moment. At the start of the season I was having trouble with injury but now I feel fit.
"The only thing I’d say is that it doesn’t really mean a lot, because we’re not getting the results. Look at the Bristol City game. I scored twice but we still lost 3-2.
"It’s disappointing but, on a personal level, I’ve had a great month. Hopefully I can stick at it, keep it going and do my bit to help the team pick up some points because there’s still a long way to go.”
The 29-year-old, who still lives in the Colchester area having joined the Blues from the U's in January 2015, insists that Town can escape the drop, despite being eight points plus goal difference from safety going into Saturday’s home game against Wigan Athletic.
"No one has ever been relegated in December,” he added. "We know it’s going to be tough but have to keep believing.
"Performances have definitely picked up, which is positive, and if we keep doing the right things, we have to hope we’ll be rewarded.”
Regarding the hospital visit, during which the players distributed presents they had paid for, he added: "Hopefully it gave everyone a lift — the children and their parents. It’s something a bit different within their day.
"It’s something I really enjoy doing and it’s a good opportunity for us, as professional footballers, to give something back. We’re lucky to be in a position where we can try and help people and put smiles on faces.
"We got a great reaction from some of the children. They were pleased to see us and knew all about Ipswich.
"I’ve got two young sons and we spent some time in hospital when my first one was born. It can be really tough, for the children and their parents. Hopefully our visit gave them a little boost.”
Various members of the squad have also visited St Elizabeth Hospice, Ipswich Hospital, EACH (East Anglia's Children's Hospices), West Suffolk Hospital and St Nicholas Hospice in Bury St Edmunds over the last few days. TWTD joined Cole Skuse, Dean Gerken and Gwion Edwards at Ipswich Hospital on Monday.