Town striker David McGoldrick is already looking forward to next season, which will be the last before his present contract expires.

But with that deal running out in the summer of 2018 McGoldrick admits he will be eager to extend his stay in Suffolk and commit himself to a further contract tying him to Portman Road.

McGoldrick, who celebrated his 100th league start for the club with a goal in last week’s 3-1 victory over high-flying Newcastle, said: “I’ve got no plans to be going anywhere else. I’ll be back for pre-season and I’ll be fighting for my place in the team — and then an extended deal. That’s the plan.”

The former Southampton and Nottingham Forest player, who has also had a number of loan moves in his career, is even looking forward to an influx of new talent during the close season, something boss Mick McCarthy recently hinted would happen.

McGoldrick, 29, added: “My main hope is to come back fit, hit the ground running and have a good pre-season. But if the gaffer wants to bring in new blood during the summer to help the team, great. It helps to lift everyone when you see an exciting player coming in.

“You see him on the first day of training, he does well and you think to yourself ‘We’ve got something here’. It excites you and keeps everyone on their toes.

“If two new strikers came in during the summer the gaffer is bringing them in to play so it will put me on my toes and the same for the other strikers who are here.

“I’m hoping there will be new players arriving for next season because it pushes everyone and that’s what we want.”

McGoldrick is also certain that McCarthy, the main target for frustrated fans in recent months, will still be in charge and he admits to feeling for the manager when the flak has been flying in his direction, particularly after a number of depressing home displays.

He added: “The gaffer will still be here and I think he’s a victim of his own success, with the budget we’ve been on and what we’ve been doing during the past couple of years.

“I think that’s been underrated when you look at the money that is spent in this league on transfer fees and wages.

“We’re way behind that but we’ve been in the play-offs and finished seventh last season. It hasn’t clicked this season, for whatever reason, and he’s been getting stick.

“He’s not the type to hide from it — other managers might even have resigned but I could never see him doing that.

“He’ll stick with it and I know he’ll pull it round because he’s a top manager and his record speaks for itself.”

Meanwhile, McGoldrick is hoping to add to his five senior caps for the Republic of Ireland, for whom he qualifies through a grandmother who was born there.

“We’ve got friendlies against Mexico and Uruguay and then Austria in a World Cup qualifier,” he said. “It will be good to get called up for them.

“I find when we break up for the summer I’m itching to come back after a week or so of the wife nagging at me.

“It’s fitness as well — you don’t have to go out for runs on your own because you’ve got the training and the games for Ireland, and you’re not switching off for too long.

“If I’m called up I’ll be working with top Premier League players and you learn from the experience. I’m just little old McGoldrick from Ipswich when I’m playing with some of the strikers there.

“It’s good to go there sometimes because it’s a real good atmosphere in and around the squad.”

Photo: TWTD

The_Romford_Blue added 17:47 - Apr 27 I bloody love didzy
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hoppy added 17:49 - Apr 27 If he can stay fit, and show the form he's been in over the last few weeks, that would be excellent news. Hopefully, that's not too much of a big IF...
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Pilgrimblue added 17:57 - Apr 27 Good to hear but if we get two new strikers I'd like to see him sitting behind them as part of an attacking midfield.
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yungblue added 18:11 - Apr 27 Have to revert back to 4-4-2 next season, McGoldrick and Samuel has to be the front two. Sears is a good player but doesn't score enough goals, good option from the bench but not a starter. Danny Rowe has to start LM next season as well.
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cornishblu added 18:16 - Apr 27 This is the best news I,ve read in quite sometime...when fit he is undoubtedly our most intelegent player ......as with all he needs to be played in his right position..... Didzy ....we need you to stay
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BotesdaleBlue added 18:17 - Apr 27 It's really good news that McGoldrick is feeling so positive in himself and wants to stay beyond the remaining year of his contract. The is the best outfield contracted player at the club when fully fit, as he has shown us recently. Signing him up on a longer deal must be a priority early next season, injuries permitting.
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ArnieM added 22:19 - Apr 27 A lot of very positive vibes coming out of PR right now. It's been missing all season......something happening at the Club finally ie has MM and Evans already had some talks despite the comments from MM about waiting until last game is completed before meeting up with Evans. Has Evans finally got the message about investment levels needing to be upped??
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GiveusaWave added 10:49 - Apr 28 Hope so ArnieM, really hope so......
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MooseJuice added 11:52 - Apr 28 Go earn that contract next year Didz. It's been said before but as great technically as McGoldrick is, he hasn't been the smartest at times. Dropping back into midfield (and even deeper) when he's been frustrated at his lack of time with the ball - especially when he was the lone striker - was only detrimental to the team. You can't pick up the ball on the half way line or out wide and play a through ball or put in a cross when there's nobody there... because that's supposed to be you! When Freddie came in in the January window, full of confidence and playing up front he went on to get 9 goals I believe. He showed we have a 20 goal a season striker (and that was without any pens or freekicks) when utilised correctly. I'd like to think these last few games have CLEARLY shown that to MM... though I have no confidence whatsoever. Play these two up front next year and for goodness sake keep the ball on the ground, and it good be a beautiful partnership! Whether MM has it in him to play this and more importantly stick with it even if we lose a couple of games...? I doubt it.

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ormey75 added 02:07 - Apr 30 Gone a little stale, need to move on, need to start again as this squad is crap
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