Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna says contract talks with Massimo Luongo can wait until the end of the season.

The Australian midfielder signed a six-month contract with the Blues in January after his previous short-term deal at Championship club Middlesbrough had expired.

Some injury niggles initially limited the 30-year-old's involvement with the first team, but he's just come off to successive standing ovations at Portman Road following impressive displays against Burton and Accrington. 

“I knew Massimo as a player when he was first here (on loan from Tottenham back in 2012) and he was a very good footballer then," said McKenna. 

“But you can now see the experience and know-how that he’s gathered throughout his career.  

“We’ve built him up well. It’s great to see him out there on the pitch and you can see how much he’s enjoying it and how much the other players are enjoying playing with him. He’s bringing a lot to us."

Asked if talks about a longer-term deal might soon start, the Blues boss said: “There will always be interest in a player of Massimo’s calibre.

"But as he said himself, now is the time for thinking about the next game, focusing on the next performance and the rest can be dealt with down the line in the summer." 

Town head to Bolton on Saturday for a crunch fifth-v-third League One clash.

McKenna says he has a decision to make as to whether the in-form Luongo and Nathan Broadhead, both of whom have managed injury problems, can go again.

"The fact this is our third game in a week, it’s a long travel and we’re playing against a team who have had a week to prepare is something we’re certainly going to have to factor into the selection," said the Blues boss.

Dominic Ball, meanwhile, could be included in the squad following his quicker-than-expected recovery from November knee surgery.