Town new boy Leon Best believes his working relationship with manager Mick McCarthy is already “perfect” and can’t wait to make his debut at Reading this evening.

Best, 29, was a free agent when McCarthy offered him a chance to train with the club last month, later signing him on a short-term deal through to the end of the current campaign.

The Republic of Ireland striker, most recently with Rotherham but released at the end of last season, said: “So far Mick has been perfect for me. He’s an honest man and he tells me what he wants me to do.

“That’s definitely something I need. I need a manager like that who knows what he wants and all I can do is try to give it to him.

“When I first spoke with Mick he said he wanted me to come in and train so that he could have a look at me, so when he told me that he wanted to sign me I was delighted. It was the lift I needed.

“It’s hard when you are without a club and five or six years ago I never thought I’d be going into clubs on trial.

“But as Mick said, it wasn’t a matter of bringing me in to see if I’d lost my ability, it was a matter of seeing where I was and whether I would come in, work hard and was what he needed. It’s good to know he sees something in me and for that I’m very thankful.

“Honesty, for me, is a massive thing. Mick is 100 per cent honest and I can see that already. He looks me in the eye and tells me exactly what he wants me to do. He’s similar to Neil Warnock in that respect. He’s also honest so it’s the same kind of thing.

“I did well under Neil at Rotherham last season and I feel I’ve got lots to offer Ipswich. It’s a matter of proving myself and others wrong as well. I’ve got a few targets that I want to reach so it’s about hard work and I’m looking forward to it.

“Even when I was scoring goals in the Premier League I had doubters. You always have doubters but it’s yourself that you have to convince.

“The doubters are always in your ear but it’s about not going with them and not always following them. If you hear things a lot you might start to believe them. It’s a matter of striving for the highest.”

Best said he had a few other options to consider but added: “I’d heard some amazing things about Ipswich and now I’ve seen it for myself I know it’s the right thing for me.

“I was training with West Brom and keeping fit. I went there with no fitness but I could feel myself getting sharper. Then as soon as Tony [Pulis] called me in to say Mick wanted me here to train I came straight down.

“It wasn’t a case of turning down Premier League football. I spoke with Tony and he did me a favour in letting me go in there — before that I was chasing my kids round the garden for a bit of fitness.

“As soon as I heard about Ipswich’s interest — to come in with the possibility of a contract — I was straight down here.”

Best

BrettenhamBlue added 09:10 - Sep 9 Think you may get to start. Good luck.
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BrettenhamBlue added 09:11 - Sep 9
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ArnieM added 10:48 - Sep 9 I think Leon is going to alright for the team tbh. He's really up for it , and thats 99% of the job done IMO. Its almost like we have a new team with the signing of these players in the window. Im really looking forwrad to seeing how MM lines up the team over this coming Month: which by the end of , we will have a pretty good Idea of how our season is going to pan out, because its a really tough month . Lets get behind the lads.. COYB's

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Michael11 added 11:59 - Sep 9 I'm really impressed by his attitude and personality. He always came across as a bit of a journeyman and I presumed he must be a bad egg, but that couldn't look further from the truth. He's come with a point to prove and he seems up for it so I will back him 100% and hope he can do well for us.
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TimmyH added 12:35 - Sep 9 Blimey looks like he belongs in south central LA not in sleepy Suffolk.
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GiveusaWave added 12:38 - Sep 9 I believe Best will do well. He battles for everything and enjoys running with the ball, could turn out to be a shrewd signing
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Hux added 12:46 - Sep 9 I am hopeful that Leon can hit the ground running as he obviously has ability, but seems to have lost his way a bit. I do wonder though considering Mick's tough talking approach to professionalism that he allows his new signing to address a press conference dressed in a basketball vest, just doesn't quite strike me as the most professional way of engaging with the media. Every other player we see interviewed is kitted out in town training kit, why does Leon get a free licence to do what he wants?

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Seasider added 13:10 - Sep 9 Agree Hux,never seen a player of any team interviewed in his vest before
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carlo88 added 17:13 - Sep 9 Christ look at the state of him. Alf Ramsey would spin in his grave.
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warwickblue added 17:24 - Sep 9 Believe me, if you'd spent that much on ink you'd want to show it off too. If he scores a few goal he can have the Mona Lisa tattooed on his ass for all I care!
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