On-loan Town goalkeeper Will Norris has played in the Premier League with parent club Wolves — but he doesn’t even consider it an achievement worthy of inclusion in his cv.
The reason? His all-too-brief debut experience was over in next to no time after he came on as a stoppage-time substitute in the closing stages of his side’s 1-0 win over already-relegated Fulham at Molineux on the final day of last season.
It is in the record books for ever more but Norris said: "It doesn’t count — not to me in any case. I wouldn’t even put it in my cv.
"I once saved two penalties in stoppage time for Cambridge United against Accrington Stanley — now that’s something I would make sure I included in my cv.”
But Norris still has his sights set on becoming a Premier League regular in the future and although his path to the Wolves first team is currently blocked by ex-Norwich man John Ruddy and Portuguese international Rui Patricio, he remains devoted to the task of one day becoming the number one choice.
Norris added: "I’ve got a couple of years left on my contract at Wolves and I still think I can have a route to the top with them. If this loan goes well I can go back and be in the forefront of the gaffer’s mind.
"I’ve got a lot of time ahead of me and I’m keen to play at the highest level possible. But I can’t look too far forward at the minute. I just want to concentrate and do as well as I can for Ipswich.
"It can be frustrating in the situation I’m in at Wolves but I think that’s natural when you’re not playing.
"I’d be even more frustrated if I didn’t agree the decision was the right one. Wolves have two great keepers in John and Rui.
"The year we went up from the Championship John won the Golden Glove and kept a fair few clean sheets and since then Rui has come in and done really well.
"They’ve both been solid, so I completely understand why it’s not the wrong decision for me to be behind them both and if I’m frustrated it’s definitely not through lack of trying on my part.
"Whenever I pull the shirt on I try hard to give the best account I can of myself and it hasn’t been any different at Wolves.
"I know Wolves doing well limits my opportunities but I don’t begrudge the club, the players or the fans their success. They deserve it and it’s a tremendous football club.
"I have improved as a goalkeeper in my time with Wolves and I have no regrets about joining them.
"In fact, I believe you can’t have any regrets in this game, especially with a back story like mine and you see where I am now. I’d have been silly to turn down the opportunity to go and play for a club like Wolves.
"But in hindsight, if you’d said to me that I would only go and play about 10 games in a couple of years, I’d have to weigh it up.
"But, like I said, you can’t have any regrets. I went there and I’ve given it my all but now I’m here at Ipswich and I’m keen to get going again.”
Norris is set to make his Town debut in tomorrow’s Carabao Cup first round tie at Luton, who won promotion to the Championship last season.
"He also looks forward to other opportunities to capture the attention of Town boss Paul Lambert, for example in the EFL Trophy — now the Leasing.com Trophy after a change of sponsor.
He continued: "It was the Checkatrade Trophy last season and I played in it for the Wolves U21s. It was a good opportunity to play against more senior sides and I see it as another competition and another opportunity to get minutes. The more games I play, the better.
"I’ve got to admit I am gagging for league football. It has been a while but right now I just want to play as many games as possible, whether it’s league or cup. It’s up to me to play well enough to make the manager think about picking me.”