KIERON Dyer returns to Portman Road today still very much a class act.

That’s according to Ipswich Town assistant boss Terry Connor, who – having coached the 34-year-old just over a week ago – is wary of the midfielder making an instant impact on his Middlesbrough debut this afternoon.

Released by struggling Premier League side QPR at the start of the month, Dyer called upon his former Blues academy mentor, Bryan Klug, to ask if he could train with his boyhood club while his injury-hit career was once again in limbo.

And now, somewhat ironically, he is set to make his Boro debut against the club that is so close to his heart after being snapped up by his former Town team-mate, Tony Mowbray, on a pay-as-you-play deal on transfer deadline day.

“He mainly trained with the youth team, but he did have one session with the first team,” said Town coach Connor.

“He showed his class in that session and it was good for the other players to see that little bit of quality that you don’t always get in your group.

“Kieron will always look fit and sharp if you can get him on the training pitch because he’s a quality player. The issue with him has been maintaining it over a period of time.

“All we can do is wish him the best. If we’ve done our little bit here to help him then that’s great.

“We hope he stays fit and plays games, but all that gets put aside when he comes up against us of course.”

Dyer made his Town debut at the age of 17, was sold to Newcastle United for a then club-record fee of £6m and went on to make 33 England appearances.

His promising career has infamously been hit by injuries though, with the midfielder having made just 22 starts over the last five-and-a-half seasons – including a brief loan spell back with his hometown club under Paul Jewell.

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