Town winger Kasey McAteer has admitted that the start to the season has been tough, both on an individual level and as a team.

After 11 league games, the Blues are 12th in the Championship table with four victories and sit nine points behind the automatic promotion places with a game in hand.

Meanwhile, McAteer has struggled to nail down a place in the side with just four starts to his name and being an unused substitute in three of the last four outings.

While the opening months have been below par for the pre-season title favourites, the 23-year-old insists that there is plenty more to come between now and the end of the campaign.

“It’s been a tough one,” he said. “As a collective, it’s not gone as we’ve hoped for it to have gone with results and how the table sits.

“Everyone knows the Championship and how long the season is and we believe in this club and the changing room that we will get ourselves to where we want to get to and that’s ultimately being at the top of the table.

“That comes with day in, day out training really well, believing in ourselves, including the staff and they’ve really pushed that as well. We strive to be there and I think we will be there sat here in May.

“As an individual, it’s tough when you come into a new club and new environment for the first time properly. It can be tough and I’ve found it tough, but I still know there’s more to come from myself and I believe in myself.

“I’ve had chats with the staff and players and it seems like people believe in me. I feel like I will get to where I know I can get to, and that just comes from the training pitch and putting the hard yards on the training field.”

Reflecting further on his own battle for minutes, he added: “It’s not just here, it’s at every club in the country. Everyone’s fighting for places in the squad and healthy competition is always good in the squad.

“It’s not easy to get in the starting XI and everyone every day is fighting hard to get in, so I think it’s part and parcel of the game where we play.

“The first goal here whenever it will come, hopefully sooner rather than later, doesn’t change my outlook on how I’d see the game and how I want to impact the game.

“First and foremost, when I get the opportunity to play and put on the shirt, it’s running hard yards, doing my work for the team first, and then if the goals and assists come, that’s a bonus.

“The first thing that I think of is what can I do to help my teammates and when they need me most, I’m going to be there for them. That’s what I think it should be as well as every other player.”

The personal aspect of players moving clubs is a challenge that is often overlooked in the world of inflated transfer fees and an ever-growing desire for instant success.

For McAteer, the summer transfer to Suffolk marked the first time he has permanently left Leicester City, having been in the Foxes academy since the age of eight.

The Town winger acknowledged the difficulties that brings, but feels he is almost fully settled two months into his time at Portman Road.

He said: “Just a whole new environment. It’s not really on my doorstep, Ipswich, I’m down here by myself. That’s a big change in my life but that’s part and parcel of being a professional footballer, things can chop and change and in my instance, it has changed.

“It’s just for me to get my head around it and do my job at the end of the day. Apart from that I'm really enjoying it, it’s been a challenge but a challenge that I’m definitely up for.

“I do feel like I'm nearly there, to be honest. The first few weeks were very tough, but now that I’ve been in the building for a couple of months now, I seem to have found my feet and built relationships with my teammates in the changing rooms so that’s always good.

“Hopefully as the season goes on and the months go on, I can keep growing the relationships.”

McAteer, an eight-cap Republic of Ireland international, was helped into the group through four of his new teammates being familiar from the national team, including the Blues’ new captain Dara O’Shea.

“Knowing a few faces before you come through the door is always good,” McAteer said. “Touching on them lads, they’ve been great with me and it’s nice to have some faces you can turn to if you have any problems.

“Luckily for me, I’ve not really had any issues while I’ve been down here, it’s been quite plain sailing so hopefully that can continue.

“Really good guys to come into, especially when you can call them your teammates as well as your fellow countrymen.”

In recent days, McAteer’s new manager Kieran McKenna has been linked with the vacancy at Scottish giants Celtic following the resignation of Brendan Rodgers on Monday.

The Town winger heaped praise on McKenna and says his success will naturally bring interest, but insisted that the full focus of everyone at Playford Road is on the weekend’s trip to Queens Park Rangers.

He lauded: “He’s been great with me, I can only say good things. He’s had one-to-one chats with me and reminded me that he’s brought me here for a reason, he believes in me and he wants me to show my qualities.

“We’ve had some good chats and he’s outlined where he thinks I can improve and what he thinks I'm doing well, which is what every good manager does. He’s been really good with me.

“When you have a good manager, his name is going to be floated around at other clubs. But he’s here, he’s our manager and that’s it for now.

“He’s obviously a really good manager, he’s got back-to-back promotions with this club. He’s a manager I really rate highly so it’s no surprise to us at the club that he’s gained that interest.

“But for now, we’ve had a really good training week and we’re looking forward to the weekend. His aim is to get three points at the weekend, that’s all he’s really spoken about. For now, we’re focusing on the weekend and that’s what everyone here is doing.”

Photo: TWTD

Jugsy added 14:09 - Oct 31 Would be nice if fans got behind our new signings (well, all our players) rather than moaning at them. Kasey is one player who's hears way too much of the crowd moaning in his direction.
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RobITFC added 14:31 - Oct 31 Yet to see him actually go past a defender! I am sure there is more talent there but cannot wait for Wes Burns to show him what to do!
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TimmyH added 14:44 - Oct 31 Agree RobITFC - but I wouldn't be so sure on Burns coming back as the same player after such time out and now at 30 and a player that relies on speed.
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Stato added 15:08 - Oct 31 I hope it all comes good for Kasey but at the time we bought where was the evidence that he was worth £14m or anything like that. He wasn't good enough for Leicester so why were so keen to have him ? It looked a bizarre transfer and plenty on here questioned it. He is not the onky attacking player struggling to produce goals or assists which implies the patterns of play being learnt in training just aren't right for this group of players and where Kasey is concerned I'm yet to see even glimpses of a player worthy of £14m and a place in the first team squad

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warktheline added 16:11 - Oct 31 Can’t stand these articles by players talking a good game etc etc..stop the talk and walk the walk!
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Everydayblue added 16:17 - Oct 31 Stato, it's not as if McCateer set his own asking price.... Not his fault he cost what he cost... Stupid aiming that at him, imo.
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LWNR1973 added 16:52 - Oct 31 In his first game he was getting past his defender repeatedly and playing it low into the box!!
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Stato added 17:30 - Oct 31 Everyday you're completely right but I'm not blaming him for the asking price.
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armchaircritic59 added 18:02 - Oct 31 Maybe Kasey isn't a 14m player ( not his fault of course, totally out of his control ), so I'm not judging him on that. On his own admission he's not quite up to speed yet. I get the impression he's been signed as a reliable team player rather than someone who's going to get people jumping out of their seats, though there could be more to him than that. Some settle into new surroundings, new circumstances etc, quicker than others. I'm going to give him a bit more time, not for ever of course, but certainly a few more weeks. No point in getting on his back, it only makes things even more difficult for him. Better to support and see what happens.

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Bazza8564 added 18:40 - Oct 31 Guys, please remember in July and August what you were all saying about Jaden and Jack....... The boy has been selected for the potential he has, not just where he is now. FFS give him some space to grow into it
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armchaircritic59 added 18:55 - Oct 31 Bazza8564, exactly!
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mehrad added 22:59 - Oct 31 Great lad, it seems. Bazza8564 - understand your point re Jaden and Jack, but they are proven stars at this level. Kasey, on the other hand, started only 13 times for Leicester 2 years ago when they were in the Championship (when Jaden and Jack were creating havoc). On face value, Kasey has neither the skills nor the speed to be a top-end championship winger. He would have been a puzzling squad add on a free, but to pay >10 for him, is bizarre. But, hoping beyond hope to be proven wrong.

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Edmundo added 23:29 - Oct 31 He has said himself that the move down here has been difficult. It may take him longer therefore to perform to his optimal level. Give him time.
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Magic8 added 06:19 - Nov 1 Agree Jugsy...why do people on here always knock players..McAteer is not in the squad to be Jack Ckarke or Jaden..or even Burns...every squad needs a variety of skills and attributes to deal with a long season and various situations....McAteer is a solid citizen player...one who will work his socks off when times ate tough...won't hide from his duties....he wears our shirt....he's new to the club...get behind him....plus..those rhat complained about Woolfie being allowed to go should watch Keiffer Moore take him to the cleaners last night....he was a key part of our past success and i really liked him but his lack of pace and physicality were laid bare last night....players come and players go...when they wear our shirt get behind them....they need us.....

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muccletonjoe added 12:20 - Nov 1 He has alot to prove at the moment. I freely admit to being unimpressed. The only person who can change that is the player himself. I am sure he IS better than he has shown us, but he has to prove it. I hope he does btw.
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