Giles Coke knows he has a battle on his hands if he’s going to secure a regular place in Mick McCarthy’s midfield, but has insisted he’s up for the challenge.

The former Sheffield Wednesday and Motherwell man started for the Blues in the 3-0 defeat to Manchester United on Wednesday night and performed well alongside Kevin Bru, keeping things neat and tidy against formidable opponents such as Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ander Herrera.

With Bru and Teddy Bishop back in the picture after injury, Luke Hyam working towards a return and Cole Skuse and Jonathan Douglas the regular starters in the Championship, McCarthy has an abundance of midfield options, but Coke is determined to make his job even harder if given the chance.

“All I can do is give it 100 per cent, when I get a chance I have to show the manager what I can do and I’ll keep plugging away,” he said.

“Hopefully my chance will come soon.

“Coming here I knew it wasn’t going to be easy and you have to work for it.

“Nobody’s guaranteed to start, even the players who are starting need to play well to keep their shirts.

“All I can do is give my best and do everything I can to get a chance.

“I’m settling in well and everyone’s been really good. It’s a great club to be at.”

Next up for Town is a return to Championship action at home to Bristol City tomorrow, with Coke insisting the Ipswich squad were always focussed on the clash with Steve Cotterill’s side despite Wednesday’s glamour tie at Old Trafford.

“We weren’t favourites to win (in Manchester), although we wanted to win, but we only have one thing on our minds which is getting promoted this season,” he said.

“For the young boys and even for myself it was an amazing experience, I’d never played there before and it was a brilliant trip for us all. We all enjoyed it but it was never meant to be.

“It all comes to Saturday now, Bristol City at home, and we’re looking to get three points.”