Town loanee Luke Varney has expressed his desire to earn himself a permanent deal at Portman Road.

Blackburn striker Varney has four games left of the regular season — he cannot face his parent club on the final day at Ewood Park — and then perhaps the play-offs in which to make the sort of impact that will have manager Mick McCarthy looking to make him an offer.

Varney, 32, said: “My aim was to come here and hopefully do well enough that there might be something at the end of it. If there is it will mean I’ll have done my job and the club will have benefited as well.

“We’ll see where we are in the summer but for the time being I’m just enjoying my time here and I hope that will continue over my last four games.

“I can’t see me staying at Blackburn, I must admit. The manager [Gary Bowyer] has said he wants to work with me again but I don’t know if that means at Blackburn or elsewhere.

“I see my future away from there and I’ve really enjoyed my time at Ipswich so if there was a chance to stay on it is something I would definitely think about.

“Mick McCarthy has not said anything to me about it and I don’t think it’s the right time. We’re all concentrating on this short period through to the end of the season.

“The next couple of games are very important and once we’ve played them we can sit down and see where we go from here. We don’t know what league we are going to be in but we know which one we want to be in.”

Town take on Blackpool and Cardiff at home in the next four days, clashes of extra significance after the Easter Monday defeat at Huddersfield that saw them drop down to eighth place in the Championship table, three points adrift of sixth-placed Wolves.

Varney was asked how big a setback it was to lose in Yorkshire and responded: “Probably not as big as we thought but obviously it will depend on Saturday’s and Tuesday’s results. It has given us a lot more impetus to put things right against Blackpool and Cardiff.

“The first priority is Blackpool and we need to put in a good performance because if we do that we have a better chance of winning the game. We let ourselves down at Huddersfield, for sure, especially in the first half.

“It was a long journey back on Monday and it wasn’t a nice one if I’m being honest. But the lads are an honest bunch and it doesn’t need the gaffer to say a great deal.

“As players we take a lot of responsibility and it was a tough journey back to Ipswich, but the mood in the camp is still good and we’ve moved on from the Huddersfield game. We’re talking about the Blackpool and Cardiff games now.”

Varney netted Town’s only goal, his first for the club in eight appearances, and he admitted it came as a relief to get off the mark.

He said: “I think it’s important sometimes, probably for other people who might judge you, but I’ve felt good about the games I’ve played in. I feel like I’ve been involved in creating chances and stuff but yes, of course it was nice to stick one in.”

Photo: Action Images

TimmyH added 15:15 - Apr 10 Varney's done ok since he's been here BUT there is a big difference in playing a few games (if he is playing for a contract) and playing consistently over a season. If we are to progress I personally feel we need more quality than what Varney has to offer, but mo doubt Mick will see things differently.
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Seasider added 18:02 - Apr 10 Depends what division we are in.Seemed really disappointed when interviewed after latest defeat;so if we are still anchored in the Championship ,which looks likely,then yes
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harlingblue added 21:51 - Apr 10 Varney has been a standout player in recent games and really seems to have our club in his heart. I feel that he is really grateful to have been given the chance here and is doing his utmost to win a contract for himself but most of all give his all for ITFC.
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