Luke Woolfenden has reiterated that he could easily have left Ipswich Town before Kieran McKenna took over as manager.

The 24-year-old defender, who played a key role in the Blues' promotion from League One last season, scored in front of a packed Portman Road on Saturday as Stoke City were beaten 2-0 and Town moved top of the early Championship table.

Rewind to the back end of 2021 though and the homegrown youngster was training with the Under-23s under Paul Cook's management. In his own words, he 'wanted to be anywhere else other than Ipswich' and was 'nailed on' to leave at that time.

Asked about how close he came to moving on from Ipswich, Woolfenden chuckled and replied: "Under what circumstance - with (Paul) Lambert or with Cook? There were a few times, I think.

"When Cook was here, I wasn’t playing at all and I was trying to be shipped out the door. It was never really that close though because the windows were never really at the right time.

"There was a lot in the press about the ‘Demolition Man’ who told everyone they could leave, but he never said that to me.

"I’ve always been committed to the club. I always said that I wanted to get promoted back to the Championship with Ipswich."

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Initially restored to the side by caretaker boss John McGreal, Woolfenden retained his place when McKenna took charge in December 2021 and has been a virtual ever-present since.

"I love being here, even more so now the gaffer’s here," said the centre-back, known for his composed playing style and laid-back nature off the pitch.

"I’m loving my football and I’m happy to be back in the team.

"It’s easy to doubt from the outside because of the way that I am as a person. I think I get questions asked of me a lot because of the way that I seem on the outside.

"The gaffer has understood that a lot. Him and (assistant manager Martyn) Perty have taken to my character. It helps the way we play now - I’m thriving at the minute and loving football."