NEW signing Elliott Hewitt won’t have to look far for inspiration when he takes his place for pre-season in just over a month’s time.

The Welsh Under-21 international, who last week signed for Ipswich in a three-year deal from Macclesfield, arrives in Suffolk a little raw – but full of potential.

Across from him, and possibly on the other side of the defence come the start of next season, will be Aaron Cresswell, a once-unknown plucked by Paul Jewell who went on to wow the Super Blues.

The left-back missed just one game all season and was named as Supporters’ Player of the Year during a fantastic first year at Portman Road.

And Hewitt, who has just 24 Football League appearances to his name, is hoping to make a similar impact to the Liverpudlian.

He said: “I’ve heard a lot about Cressie and I know he did well stepping up from the lower leagues.

“Hopefully I can have a similar impact and show the fans here what I’m all about and make the step up too. I know he’s a really good player and I’m looking forward to playing alongside him.”

Hewitt, who celebrated his 18th birthday on the day he signed for Ipswich, is Town’s first signing of what fans will hope will be a busy summer of transfer incomings.

Chief executive Simon Clegg said: “We are really pleased to have signed Elliott Hewitt, a hot young prospect who had a lot of Premier League clubs interested in him.

“It is a big step-up for him but he is a really nice young man and he is really excited about playing for Ipswich. It demonstrates what we said at the end of last season – that, in the main, we would be looking to sign young players.”