Gwion Edwards always believed he would make his way back up through the leagues.

The flying Welsh winger – a £700k buy from League One side Peterborough United this summer – has been Town’s best player in the league so far this season and produced an electric debut, scoring and providing an assist, in the 2-2 home draw against Blackburn Rovers on opening day.

Having failed to make the breakthrough at boyhood club Swansea City, the 25-year-old played for St Johnstone (Scottish Premier League) and Crawley Town (League One and Two) before really making his name at London Road.

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“It was a major disappointment when I left Swansea,” he admits. “I had a pro contract but different managers came and went. You know how it is – some players get the chance and others just miss out. When it happens to you you’ve got to be strong mentally and look to prove a point.

“You can accept you might have to drop down a few leagues in order to play games and that’s what I did. I went on loan to St Johnstone and then I went to Crawley, worked my way back up at Peterborough and now I’ve got a chance with Ipswich in the Championship.

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“I wouldn’t have changed my journey. I could have taken the easier way, progressing through the ranks at Swansea, but it’s the same in any job – you’ve got to work hard for what you get.

“That’s what I have done and I will carry on working hard now that I’m here because I want to do well for Ipswich.”

He added: “These days a lot of young players play in the Under-23 league and it’s not as good as the old reserve league used to be.

“As a young lad you need to go out and play senior football, where you’re in the mix and playing week-in, week-out.

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“In my experience that will make you a better player and it will make you stronger, not just as a footballer but in life in general.

“You learn a lot of things doing it that way and it was definitely good for me. I’ve come a long way for this chance and I mean to make the most of it. If you’re not confident and don’t believe in what you can achieve, you are going to fail. You have to be positive and look to show everyone you are going to progress.”