Giles Coke admits he would love to play a part in Town’s clash with his former club, Sheffield Wednesday, at Portman Road tomorrow.

The ex-Owls midfielder, on as a sub at Brentford last week, made his first competitive start in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Stevenage that booked the club’s place in the second round of the Carling One Cup.

But did he do enough to earn a place in the starting line-up against a Wednesday side fresh from a 4-1 home success against another of Coke’s former clubs, Mansfield Town, in the same competition?

Coke said: “I think it went well against Stevenage. It was always going to be a tough game — the cup games are always tough. Fair play to Stevenage, they did make it tough for us but I think we were definitely the better team overall and deserved to win.

“Did I do enough to start against Wednesday? You’d have to ask the manager that. All I can do is give 100 per cent when I play and hopefully it’s enough for the manager to pick me.”

Even if he has to bide his time to force his way into Mick McCarthy’s first-choice XI, Coke would love to play his part in Town progressing in the Capital One Cup, adding: “I love playing football so any game that I play helps because it gives the manager another chance to look at me and consider me for a league game.”

Coke had no idea what the future held when he was released after five years at Hillsborough but he knew from the first day he arrived on trial at Town that he wanted to stay put.

He had been training at Blackburn when McCarthy extended an invitation to join up on a trial basis and Coke admitted: “Right from the very start I liked it here. When you look around the place and you see what the club’s like it’s brilliant and the boys are brilliant as well.

“The boys have really made me feel at home. They’re a good bunch of boys and there’s a real togetherness among them, which can go a long way. I really couldn’t be happier with the way things have worked out.

“When you are on a free you literally don’t know what is next. You’ve got to consider everything. You just never know what is going to happen in football. If you didn’t have other options you would have to consider things like dropping down a division or maybe even moving abroad.”

There were reports as long as 10 years ago that Town were showing an interest in Coke, who at the time was beginning to make a name for himself at Mansfield.

But he added: “I genuinely didn’t know anything about that back then. It’s a long time ago and I don’t know anything about speculation like that.”

Photo: Action Images

Jimmy86 added 08:54 - Aug 14 I would pick Coke ahead of Douglas for the weds game. Dougie looked a bit off the pace against stevenage, which is not suprising bearing in mind his lack of pre season. Thought coke looked very tidy against stevenage and can tell he is a class footballer. Kept the ball moving well, bit like Skuse.
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battyblue added 09:10 - Aug 14 No way cokey i don't think so somehow but we all know Mick has a mind of his own expect Tabby will be next in line. Looks like we would not pay the 500,000 for mcgee from hearts a bit out of our price range i fear.
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GerkensBeard added 09:24 - Aug 14 I'd actually like to see Douglas start tomorrow against Wednesday. As I think with the players we have at our disposal tomorrow will be the perfect opportunity to test the new 4-2-3-1 formation in the league especially against a team which is bound to play 4-3-3. I'd have Dougie and Skuse sitting, Fraser on the left and AMN on the right with mcgoldrick just behind Murphy

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BlueKush added 09:27 - Aug 14 @GerkensBeard That's almost the same as 442! If both players are 100% fit then I'd go for Douglas. It seems Coke is fitter and as it's against his old club maybe it's a good time to give him his first start. Whatever team we pick we'll have really good options off the bench if it's not working out.
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thebeat added 09:43 - Aug 14 From what i saw on Tuesday Coke wouldnt be anywhere near starting. One of those midfielders that seem to hide while the game passes them by. Didnt sit infront of the back 4 or get forward and also caused their goal by passing to their striker. While not quite 100% fit Douglas tried to get forward and put himself about more.
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tractorboybig added 09:44 - Aug 14 cant beleive we sign this and off loaded ambrose?? Coke starts, weds win.
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BackTheBlues added 10:09 - Aug 14 You put your left foot in Your left out In Out In Out He sprays the ball about He makes a few tackles And he runs about That's what he's all about Oooooo Giles Cokey!
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GiveusaWave added 10:17 - Aug 14 Hopefully Coke will make a name for himself against the club who released him on a free and also sent him out time and time again on loan. He's only scored 12 goals in the last 5 years so I just hope he goes against form and scores a screamer against them. I would definitely start him. He wasn't popular at all at Wednesday so giving him a start might get a few boos. That may well spur him on to give the performance of his life.

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mroberts added 10:39 - Aug 14 500K is too much to pay for Mghee. What the hell are Ipswich up to we have just received 8Million for Ming's what is 500K to that. Do Ipswich want to improve there back 4 because they need too.
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BlueSwede added 11:07 - Aug 14 I would love to improve the team any which way we can. Question though: is a player who isn't playing regularly for Hearts worth 500 000 and is he going to improve the team? People go on about not giving our own youngsters a break. Now we played Emmanuel on Saturday and Kenlock on Tuesday. Would we sell them for 500 000? I doubt it. So is it better to pay 500 000 for a player we are not sure if he is good enough to play in one of the arguably best backfours in the division last season, or should we rely the young players of our own - who have done well when given the chance?

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mickymacsbarmyarmy added 11:12 - Aug 14 more interested in wether mick keeps his blind faith in tommy smith, or emmanuel or yorwerth retain there place after encouraging debuts. personally i would keep emmanuel in, he looked the part especially 2nd half when he was bringing the ball out of defence & playing balls in to feet instead of the aimless punt into channels we usually see.
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Europablue added 11:38 - Aug 14 Surely Emmanuel has to keep his place. Although Yorwerth did well I can't really see past Berra and Chambers.
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StowTractorBoy added 11:41 - Aug 14 Would definitely play Douglas who works like a Trojan. Have nothing against Coke as looks a decent tidy player but Douglas has the energy. If Douglas does play he probably won't last 90 minutes so Coke may then get his chance.
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Jimmy86 added 12:04 - Aug 14 Stowtractorboy, didn't think Dougie offered much the other night, but realise he is short of fitness.
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runningout added 12:06 - Aug 14 as long as our defence have the mentality for 96 minutes of football, may stand a very good chance of points after points.... and glory we will have earned
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jas0999 added 12:22 - Aug 14 I was disappointed with Giles Coke to Tuesday. Awful play for their goal. Grew into the game, but against poor league two opposition - I expected better. We still lack central creative options in my opinion, as Bishop and Bru are out. Douglas offers a bit more creativity in my opinion and should be selected above Coke, who Sheffield Wednesday fans don't rate at all. I suspect however Tabby will unfortunately get the nod.

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runningout added 13:08 - Aug 14 still not sure why we signed Coke...
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