Ipswich Town attacker Sone Aluko on his return against Peterborough

The 33-year-old suffered a knee injury at the end of August which sidelined him for three months before he returned against Posh, coming straight into Kieran McKenna’s starting XI for a game Town won 2-1. 

The plan had been for Aluko to play the opening 45 minutes before making way at the break but, feeling good and having contributed significantly with a display of excellent close control and invention, the attacker carried on until the 77th minute. 

“I’m alright, a bit tired,” he said with a smile after the game. 

Sone Aluko, pictured in action against Peterborough (Image: Steve Waller)

“But I’m really happy to be back out there with the boys in front of 24,000 people, enjoying the game and getting the win. It’s been a long-time coming. 

“I told him at half-time ‘don’t take me off’ because I felt like I had a lot left in the tank still. I just said I would run myself into the ground and then see where we’re at. 

“I was playing well so there was no risk of me doing anything. I felt fine and am I’m really happy to be back. 

READ MORE: Kieran McKenna proud of his players after Peterborough victory

“There were moments in the game where I felt ‘this has been a while’ but I feel good. It’s not quite instinctual yet so I’m still thinking about things, but eventually that will become second nature for me again. 

“It’s good to be back.” 

Discussing his recovery from the injury, suffered in a Papa John’s Trophy game with Northampton, Aluko said: “It’s not been ideal at all but I think I’m back (a month) early because I’ve been staying positive. 

“It happened and I got on with it, got my head down and did what I needed to do without wasting days. I did what I needed to do every day in order to improve. 

“Even with the other parts of my body, too, meaning when the knee was fine I was able to go. 

Sone Aluko spoke to the media after Ipswich's victory over Peterborough (Image: Steve Waller)

“The medical team have been fantastic with me, giving everything I needed, so that’s why I am back so early.” 

A Conor Chaplin brace ultimately secured the points for Town, who are top of the table tonight after rivals Plymouth drew 0-0 with Cambridge later in the afternoon. 

“It’s a big three points against a good team with some very dangerous players,” he said. 

“We knew it would be a big test for us but I think we played well, all-in-all, so we’re happy to win. We wanted to get our home form back to where we want it to be so it’s a big three points for us.”