Ipswich Town: Jack Taylor on his first season with Blues

The 25-year-old arrived from Peterborough for £1.5m last summer and scored five goals in 39 games - including some spectacular strikes - as Town surged to a second straight promotion and a return to the Premier League.

But he only started seven games in the league, with Sam Morsy and Massimo Luongo the unquestioned first choice duo in Town's engine room.

Jack Taylor celebrates promotion to the Premier League (Image: Ross Halls)
Reflecting on his first season, Taylor said: "It’s been a bit of a strange one, to be honest.

"Obviously the team has done so well and I feel like I’ve made an impact when I’ve needed to.

“So I am happy with how it’s gone – obviously it could always go better."

Asked if he's shown his best so far, he added: “No. I’ve shown it in spells I think, but consistently probably not.

"I feel like I’ve got so much more to give.”

Taylor's playing under a boss in Kieran McKenna who has consistently shown he can improve his charges - and, like many others, the midfielder says his manager and coaching team are making him better.

He explained: “The impact he’s had… you’re learning day to day, and that’s what you want as a footballer.

“You want to come in every day and enjoy yourself, but you also want to learn, take something out of every day.

“I feel like I am, and positionally I’m trying to keep learning, but there’s a long way to go.

“Massive credit to him and the staff behind him. They’ve all got the same messages and they’re all on the same page.”

Taylor says Kieran McKenna is 'a winner' (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)
Of McKenna, who's just signed a new long-term contract at Portman Road after intense speculation about his future, Taylor continued: “He’s really calm, he doesn’t ever seem to be stressed – and he’s been consistent with it the whole season.

“He stays level, sticks to what he does and stays as calm as he wants.

“(Ranting and raving) works for some people, but we have the squad and the personalities in the team to bounce off what he’s saying – he gets us going when he needs to.

“Especially before games, we’re so prepared tactically and mentally, ready for every game.”

Taylor concluded: “He’s a winner, deep down. He wants to win every game.”

Jack Taylor in action for Town (Image: PA)
McKenna's men will next kick a ball in anger in the Premier League, with the Blues back at the top table of English football for the first time in 22 years,.

And Taylor can't wait. He said:  “As a boy growing up I didn’t watch a lot of Championship or League One football, it was always Premier League.

“Looking at the stadiums you’re playing in, against the players you’re facing, the support that the teams get - it’s the biggest stage in the world."