Daryl Murphy sees himself as “living proof” that players currently unable to claim a place in Town’s first team still have important roles to play at Portman Road.

Ipswich have senior stars such as Jason Scotland and skipper Grant Leadbitter in exactly that situation, occupying seats on the bench but unable to make Paul Jewell’s starting line-up.

But 29-year-old Murphy, on a season-long loan from Celtic, said: “These guys are quality players and we all know how good they are. They’ve been a bit unlucky because we’ve been doing well, the lads in their positions have been doing well and we’ve been picking up some useful results.

“The manager has always said that over the course of the season everyone is going to be used and they have to be ready when required.

“When I first came here I wasn’t even getting on the bench. You just have to keep yourself ticking over and show the manager that you are hungry to get into the team.

“I’m the living proof that things can soon change. You need to get your head down and work hard in training — then you have to make sure you take your chance when it comes.

“We’ve got eight games in March, which is a mad amount, and we’ll need as many fit players as possible for a programme like that.”

Murphy, who has netted twice in 20 first team appearances for Town in the current campaign, is none the wiser about his future after his loan spell expires.

He added: “I have another year on my Celtic contract and it’s not something I have discussed with the manager here.

“I’ll speak to Celtic when the season is over. Obviously, I keep an eye on results up there and the lads are really flying at the moment.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen but I imagine the manager [Neil Lennon] will want to bring in some new players in the summer. I’ll just have to wait and see what he is thinking when I see him.”

Photos: Action Images

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

Photo: Action Images

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