Midfielder Idris El Mizouni says he sees this evening’s Leasing.com Trophy tie against Gillingham at Portman Road as a chance to catch manager Paul Lambert’s eye.
"Games like the Tottenham [U21s] one and tonight are opportunities for us to express ourselves and show the manager what we can do,” the 19-year-old told tonight's matchday programme.
"We know the league is the priority but this is a proper first-team game. That is how the match against Tottenham was treated and it will be the same tonight.
"The manager has said he is going to give players an opportunity and change the team around and it’s down to the players coming in to impress him.”
El Mizouni has made one League One start - he played the first half of the 2-1 victory over AFC Wimbledon - and two sub appearances this season and first-team coach Matt Gill said he had been unfortunate not to be involved more often.
"He’s probably been a little bit unlucky not to be have had more minutes,” he said.
"He had a fantastic pre-season and has continued that training with us in the early part of the season, so he’ll be involved [against Gillingham].”
El Mizouni has won one full Tunisia cap and two for their U23s, scoring one goal, but is not involved with either squad during this international week. Paris-born El Mizouni qualifies for Tunisia via his father.