Jack Lankester says manager Paul Lambert has made it clear to the squad that the Blues will be “out there to win the league” this season, despite the Blues boss appearing to temper expectations with his public comments after Saturday’s 3-2 friendly defeat at Paderborn.
"He’s made it pretty clear that we’re out there to win the league,” Lankester, who missed the final months of last season with a stress fracture to his back, told iFollow Ipswich when asked what the manager had said to the squad.
"Everyone’s come back really well, the intensity in training is so high, we’re all ready for it, we’re all together.
"In terms of me, he said he wasn’t expecting me to come back and go straight in straight away, which I have.”
Bury St Edmunds-born Lankester is a Town fan born and bred with his father Steve a regular at Portman Road on matchdays.
"My whole family [are Town fans] so it’s not nice seeing what happened [last season],” the 19-year-old continued.
"But you’ve got to look at it in a way that we’ve got to bounce back up this season straight away, no doubt about it. We’ve got to give everything. I know I’ll give everything for this club.
"[The goal is] definitely [to go straight back up], the first few games are vital to get off to a good start and that sets out our season. Get some points early then we’ll be alright.”
He added: "It's not an easy first game away to Burton and then hosting Sunderland a week later, who are another massive club in the division, will also be difficult.
"But if we can prove ourselves against those two sides then I think it sets us up really well for the campaign."