KEITH Andrews today pledged to take the best bits of good pal Paul Ince and become an instant hit at Portman Road.

The 30-year-old midfielder has completed a six-month loan deal with Ipswich, an agreement that had turned into something of a saga with hold-ups caused by his parent club Blackburn Rovers.

Arriving in Suffolk with a nice balance of determination, confidence and ambition, Andrews credits the former Manchester United self-styled Guv’nor with developing his game – and Ipswich are now set to benefit.

Andrews said: “I have got the ultimate respect for him, he is a good friend and he has played a pivotal role in my career. I have taken parts from his game and he certainly taught me some things.

“It is fair to say my career blossomed from the second he walked through the door (at MK Dons). He spent a lot of time with me and helped me try and develop my game. He gave me bundles of confidence and he was always encouraging.

“He got a move to Blackburn and true to his word, he said he would bring me in wherever he went. He stuck his neck on the line because it was a move that the chairman and the fans probably frowned upon.”

Town beat off the challenge of Championship rivals to sign the midfielder and Andrews said it was an easy decision to join Jewell’s revolution after meeting the manager.

He explained: “I could have moved to clubs a lot closer to home but after seeing the ambition and the determination the club has to really challenge this year, it was a really easy decision. I want to be a major part of something. I really think this is a club going places.”

Andrews only trained with the Blues for the first time yesterday morning but insisted he is more than just a holding midfielder having fulfilled that role at Rovers.

He added: “Although I am 30, I am still an energetic midfielder. I like to get around the pitch and I’m not afraid to say my piece at the right times. Hopefully I can chip in with some goals as I have been a little restricted at Blackburn at times having to play a deeper-lying role.”

Speaking of his eighth summer signing, Town boss Paul Jewell said: “He’s a leader and he’s tough. He was injured quite a bit last season and he’s hungry to get back.

“He’s played above this level, he’s played international football and I’ve been really impressed by his determination to come here. He could easily have sat at Blackburn on his wages doing nothing, but he wanted to come here.”