Freddie Sears has a dream end-of-season scenario in mind — promotion to the Premier League with Ipswich and League One safety for former club Colchester.

Sears remains the Essex club’s leading marksman, having netted 14 goals, 10 of which were in the league, prior to his January switch to Portman Road and while his priority is to help regain Premier League status for Town, he also has his fingers firmly crossed that his previous employers can avoid the plunge into League Two.

He said: “I always look out for Colchester’s results and it’s a bit disappointing to see them losing so often.

“It looks as if they are heading for the bottom of the league but they’ve got a big game on Tuesday against Yeovil and if they can get three points from that one they could go on to push up the table.

“I really hope they can stay up. There are a lot of good players there, plus a good management team, but it’s going to be tough with so many teams in and around them, all fighting for the same thing. Coventry won on Saturday, which has made it that bit tougher.

“But hopefully they still have time to get out of trouble. What would be perfect from my point of view is that we go up and they stay up. That’s what I wanted to happen when I left them to join Ipswich but who knows what will happen.”

Sears also has a personal end-of-season target he would love to fulfil — to score at least two more goals for Town and take his overall tally for the campaign to 20, a figure to which most strikers aspire at the start of a new campaign.

He added: “My aim at the start of the season was 15, maybe 20. That was playing for Colchester, a struggling team in League One, but now I’m on 18 I am desperate to get to 20. It will be my first time at 20 and I just want to get a few more goals and get over that landmark.

“I’m delighted to have played regularly since joining Ipswich. When I first came here I said my aim was to get into the team and give the gaffer something different. I think I’ve done that.

“I’m enjoying it, I’m learning, I’m working hard and I’m just looking forward to the end of the season now.

“It’s a big challenge to get into the play-offs and then hopefully win them. Physically, I have no doubt I can cope. I’ve played every game this season so of course I’m ready to finish the season. There are nine games to go and I’d like to be involved in all nine of them.

“Hopefully there will be a few more after that as well if we can’t get to the top two. Everyone’s in the same boat, all looking forward and pushing for promotion.”

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