Ipswich Town striker Daryl Murphy believes he is in the form of his life and insists ‘there is more to come’.

The Irishman took his goal tally for the season to seven with his opener in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.

It’s the most the 30-year-old has ever had at the halfway stage of a campaign and he looks set to surpass the 10 goals he scored for Sunderland when Mick McCarthy’s side won the Championship in the 2006/07 season.

Ipswich, who host 19th-place Charlton today, have broken into the play-off places following a seven-game unbeaten run.

Asked if this is the best form of his career, Murphy said: “I think so. It’s the most goals I’ve scored heading into the new year, so that’s a good sign.

“It’s decent enough. I think I should have a few more given the chances I’ve had. I know there’s definitely more goals in me.”

Murphy finally became a permanent Town player in the summer having made nearly 100 appearances during three separate loan spells. A settled future, plus working with McCarthy again, has certainly brought out his best.

“Just knowing that I’m here and not going anywhere else has really helped me,” said the striker. “It’s a very good team spirit here – probably one of the best I’ve been involved with.

“We’re a close-knit squad, but it’s a good squad. There is two players for every position, more when it comes to strikers, so we all know we have to do our best or the gaffer will change it.”

David McGoldrick has taken many of the plaudits this season with his 11 goals, while there is excitement surrounding the impact that new signing Sylvan Ebanks-Blake could have in the second half of the campaign once he is fully fit.

Murphy continues to play an unsung role in the side though, not only chipping in with his goals but also dropping back into wide areas and defending at set-pieces.

“I don’t care who gets the plaudits as long as the team is doing well and winning games,” said Murphy. “Top six was the aim at the start of the season, we’re in there now and we want to stay there. I think we can. We’re very confident at the minute.”

– See today’s EADT and Ipswich Star for full match preview. Follow @Stuart_Watson on Twitter for live match updates.