Adam Webster is enjoying Ipswich Town’s switch to a back three and believes the formation best-suits the players at manager Mick McCarthy’s disposal.
The Blues have spent much of the season playing a 4-2-3-1 system but, for the derby clash with Norwich at Carrow Road, McCarthy switched to a central defensive three of Webster, Luke Chambers and loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers.
The system has yielded three good performances in the Norwich draw, narrow defeat by Cardiff and a 1-0 win at Preston, and is likely to be deployed again tomorrow as Town visit Sheffield Wednesday, following the postponement of Saturday’s clash with Hull.
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“We obviously worked on playing three at the back and I feel it definitely suits us. We all know our roles and responsibilities so we know what to do and I think it’s been enjoyable for all of us.
“I’m happy playing on the left-hand side. Chambo prefers playing in the middle of the three and I prefer the left because it suits me and I enjoy it.
“With the extra bit of security at the back it gives me a chance to step out with the ball and that’s something I like to do when the time is right.”
Webster’s season has been restricted to just 20 league appearances due to ankle and Achilles injuries, with the 23-year-old insisting he is now operating at 100 per cent and has plenty of miles in the tank despite there being just 12 games left of the season.
“I feel I’ve got a lot of football left in me and I had the same feeling last year after I was injured in January and only just got back before the end of the season.
“I didn’t want it to end then but we’ve still got 12 games to go this year and I’m looking to finish it strongly.
“I’m 100 per cent confident now – in fact ever since I’ve been back it’s been absolutely fine. It had to settle down and thankfully it has done.”
Despite being rated as one of the hottest defensive properties in the Championship, Webster had to make do with a place on the bench after recovering from his Achilles injury due to the impressive form of Tottenham youngster Carter-Vickers.
He understood McCarthy’s decision, though, and has been impressed with the loanee’s start to life at Portman Road.
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“Cam has done well since coming in and we’d had some good results so I just had to be patient,” he said. “In that situation you have to do well in training, which I felt I had done, and now that I’m back in the side it’s all about trying to make sure I stay in.
“I wasn’t knocking on the gaffer’s door or anything like that. Cam had done well, the results were alright and I didn’t think I could say too much. I just got my head down and waited for my chance.”
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