Town’s decision to wear their all-black third choice kit in tomorrow night’s clash with Derby County is of no real interest to the players, striker Kayden Jackson has revealed.

Sales of the blackout shirt the players will be wearing for the first time have rocketed since its launch, with fans of club sponsor and global singing star Ed Sheeran, who played a prominent part in its design, joining club supporters in snapping it up in its thousands.

But Jackson believes only one thing matters when the Rams come to town, stating: “To be honest, I’ve not thought about it once since I heard we were going to be playing in it.

“The main focus will be on our performance because we know we need to go out and give our all.

“Black kit, blue kit, pink kit, whatever it is it will have the Ipswich badge and the same name and number on it. We’ll be looking to be at our best and hopefully we will prevail.”

Nor is Jackson concerned that the game is being broadcast live on Sky Sports, Town having won just once in their last 22 appearances on the satellite channel.

“We haven’t even spoken about that,” he claimed. “The manager wants us to control the narrative and if you look at things too much, especially negative things like that, it can have an effect.

“At the end of the day, we want to go out there, control the narrative and do our best to win the game. You look at the recent Plymouth game and on another day it could obviously have been better.

“We went 1-0 up and had we taken a couple of the opportunities we had we would have been in control of that game. Unfortunately, we didn’t quite get the win but we’ll be giving our all tomorrow night to get it.”

Town fans will be hoping their favourites will bring their shooting boots to the party after they had 33 goal attempts, only five on target and failed to score in last weekend’s 1-0 home defeat by lowly Lincoln City.

Asked if it was a major concern, however, a confident Jackson added: “It doesn’t concern us as a group because we’ve scored plenty of goals over the course of this season and most weeks we’ve gone into games as the highest scorers in League One, while we’ve also got goals from pretty much everywhere, all over the pitch.

“Credit to Lincoln; they put their bodies on the line and they rode the storm. But I think it was just one of those days when you turn up and for whatever reason the ball doesn’t want to fall for you, to someone in a good position, or just doesn’t want to go in.

“That’s been put to the back of our minds, we’re not thinking ‘We didn’t score against Lincoln’ because it’s gone now. We’re going into Friday night’s game, I’m sure we will have plenty of opportunities and I’m certain there will be goals.”

Jackson has featured regularly in League One this season but with only five starts, his other seven appearances coming as a substitute, while he has scored twice, in the 3-0 win at Shrewsbury and the 2-2 draw away to Sheffield Wednesday.

Address in the subject of coming off the bench, Jackson added: “It can be difficult getting up to the speed of the game. On Saturday against Lincoln I was feeling really good and confident that I could make an impact fairly quickly. I felt comfortable in the role in which I was playing and on another day I could have provided a couple of assists.

“It’s always different, depending on the team we are playing against and how they are setting up. Obviously, Lincoln were quite defensive, so we were able to have quite a bit of the ball.

“I had quite a few touches, which was good, and like I’ve said before I’m happy to help the team whatever the circumstances, whether I’m in the starting line-up or as a substitute.”

He would obviously like to start more often but pointed out: “There are obviously different plans and strategies for different games, so I’m happy to bide my time knowing there will be times when I could get longer runs in the side, if we pick up injuries or for whatever reason.

“It has happened every season since I’ve been here and I’ll continue to work hard in training so that when the opportunities do come along I’ll be in the best position to take them.

“It’s not always going to go perfectly but I put in maximum effort in training and will always do the same if I’m selected to play.”

Asked if the fact he had been nominated for the pre-match press conference indicated he would be starting against Derby, he replied: “No, we’ll have a meeting tomorrow morning to go over the way the manager wants us to play, the way he expects Derby to set up and stuff like that. So, we’ll find out then what the team is going to be.

“It’s down to the fact that the team is so strong that I’ve not had the minutes I would have liked, so I’m working hard to see if I can change that and be first choice. With the options we have, regarding who is going to start, who is going to come off the bench and who is going to make an impact, it’s hard to call at the minute.

“If we had fewer options, in other words if the squad was weaker, maybe I would have had more minutes, but at the end of the day, whenever I’m called upon, I just want to go out and do my best to help the team.

“Touch wood, I feel physically great at the minute, but when you pick up a bad injury like I did towards the end of last season, you’re never really back to your best until the second third of the season. Hopefully, I can stay fit, avoid injuries and make a big push come the middle and back end of the season.”

Jackson has shown his versatility in his time with the Blues, often operating on either flank as well as in a central position up front, and this season even in Wes Burns’s usual right-sided position.

Does he view himself as a wing-back when in that role? “Maybe without the ‘back’,” he laughed. “Depending on the game and the opposition it can be a different role.

“I recall the game at Burton and there was a bit more of a defensive side to it, but I’m just happy if I’m playing and I will do my best to play the way the manager wants me to play.

“Whether I’m on the right, the left or through the middle, I just want to bring what I know I can bring to the team.

“I’ve played a couple of different roles this season and I’m trying to find consistency in my performances, irrespective of where I’m playing. I’m always looking to improve and be a better player in terms of what I can provide when selected. I just want to be out there helping.”

Returning to the subject of tomorrow’s clash with Derby, which will be watched by another bumper crowd, he continued: “Growing up, I never dreamt I would be playing in big games like this. I’m just looking forward to getting my opportunity and making the most of it.

“I imagine it will be a great atmosphere from the off but as players we need to give our fans something to feed off. Hopefully, it will be a positive night.”

Photo: TWTD

mow_the_lawn added 17:27 - Oct 20 Who was the one win in 22 against?
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ipswichboi added 18:08 - Oct 20 Wigan? Bish scored a header if I recall in the first game if the season, or one of
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churchmans added 21:16 - Oct 20 Would like to see Jackson start up front
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bobble added 06:44 - Oct 21 best if jackson isnt picked
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SamWhiteUK added 10:06 - Oct 21 Not sure the media keep bringing up the Sky hoodoo is that productive?
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Essexnblue added 10:12 - Oct 21 Not much of a coincidence that Ed Sheeran has announced another year of sponsorship today and we are wearing his designed kit tonight. Clever marketing.
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blues1 added 10:21 - Oct 21 Essexnblue. How has heannounced anothercyear of sponsorship today? That was announced in June.
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blues1 added 12:01 - Oct 21 Essexnblue. Ah, have just seen hes carrying on next season.
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