Blues manager Kieran McKenna felt forward Nathan Broadhead did brilliantly when making his first Premier League start in Monday’s superb 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Portman Road.
Broadhead, 26, had a slow start to the campaign having suffered a hamstring injury in the opening week of pre-season and then a groin problem as he was getting towards full fitness in November.
In between that, the Wales international was the subject of strong loan interest from his former loan club Sunderland prior to the end of the summer transfer window before ultimately staying at Town, with whom in any case he was keen to get his chance in the Premier League.
That eventually came in late November when he made his first top-flight appearance from the bench and then, following three further impressive cameos from the bench, from the start against the West Londoners.
"He did brilliantly, I have to say,” McKenna enthused. "Everyone was delighted for him in the group. We know he's got quality.
"He was unlucky with the timing of his injury at the very start of pre-season, which meant that he missed the whole of pre-season and the first few weeks of the season.
"From that point, you're playing catch-up and obviously other people come into the building, and the whole group is ahead of you in terms of match fitness.
"But he showed his quality in training and he's built up his physical level over the last couple of months. Possibly, it has done him good to have a spell of training without having to play games in terms of his body.
"We know he's got quality and he can be a really important player here. I think the way that he stepped into the team the other day, one, his fitness levels were outstanding for the 70 minutes or whatever he played.
"His concentration on his job, especially from a defensive point of view for a more attacking player, was excellent and he showed the quality that he has with the ball as well.
"It's a really big boost for the group to have Nathan back playing regular minutes as he has done over the last month or so.
"Making a start and playing 70 really good minutes against a good team is a great boost for him and a great boost for the group.”
If included in the XI at Fulham on Sunday, Broadhead will reach 50 starts for the Blues.
Elsewhere, Chelsea have been charged by the FA for surrounding referee John Brooks after he awarded Town their penalty early in the game on Monday.
https://x.com/FAspokesperson/status/1875188151607779422?s=19