THERE will be no player better motivated to end Town's dismal away record than new £400,000 signing Alan Quinn.Not only does Quinn come without any psychological baggage regarding the run of away matches without a win, but his first two matches on the road hold special significance for the midfielder.

Derek Davis

THERE will be no player better motivated to end Town's dismal away record than new £400,000 signing Alan Quinn.

Not only does Quinn come without any psychological baggage regarding the run of away matches without a win, but his first two matches on the road hold special significance for the midfielder.

Quinn is expected to make his debut against Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday and then goes back to Hillsborough to face the club that first brought him over to England from Dublin's Cherry Orchard.

He will then travel to Crystal Palace the following Tuesday and meet the manager he won promotion with at Sheffield United.

Quinn said: “I couldn't believe it when I saw the fixture list and it was Wednesday and Palace the next away games.

“Hopefully we will get the first away win there. It would be lovely.

“I scored at Bramall Lane but broke my leg and so didn't play at Hillsborough so this will be my first time back. I'm not sure what sort of reception I will get but I can imagine it won't be good after signing for Sheffield United.”

There is no doubt Quinn is a battle-hardened midfielder - you don't play for four seasons under Neil Warnock, as part of his promotion-winning and Premiership team, without being committed.

Cleaning your new manager's boots as a teenager also helps and Jim Magilton remembers Quinn from their days together at Sheffield Wednesday.

Magilton said; “I brought him here because at 28 he is still desperate to play in the Premier League. I faced similar circumstances when I was frozen out (at Sheffield Wednesday) and had a real hunger to come back.

“When I came back George (Burley) convinced me that Ipswich Town was the right place to come and I have convinced Alan to come and help us get promotion.

“With Alan you get quality, aggression and a lad with a real dynamism and I know what he will bring to the dressing room. Alan is a winner and a real character.

“He is similar to me as we come from similar backgrounds and that has a lot to do with me bringing him here. He will be a voice in the changing room who will lead my example.”

Quinn, a Republic of Ireland international, believes Magilton and Warnock are two peas in a pod when it comes to passion and desire to win. He said: “Neil is similar to Jim in that he expects 100% and if you don't give it to him, then he lets you know.

“I enjoyed working under him though and I'm looking forward to working with Jim. I was delighted when Jim got the job at Ipswich and I always said I would like to go and play for him.

“He looked out for me when I first came over from Ireland and we were at Sheffield Wednesday.

“It was clear to me that he was always going to be a coach and I'm looking forward to playing for him.”

Quinn revealed that Magilton tried to land him last October but Bryan Robson blocked the loan move. The Irishman remembered that when it came to decision time last week. He said: “Jim came in to take me on loan a couple of months ago but Sheffield United wouldn't let me go. I was disappointed with that but got back in the team and then over the Christmas period I was waiting for the window to open because I wanted to leave.

“Neil Warnock at Palace was interested but in the end I chose Jim because he had been the first to come in for me.”

He said: “I'm not one for shouting and screaming but I will let people know if they are not doing their job and they will let me know the same.

“Then after the game I'd like the manager to let me know, just as Neil Warnock did. We had that at Sheffield United where we had a lot of bust-ups in the dressing room but we were all friends afterwards. It is just the intensity of it all.”

Like a lot of people Quinn admits to being baffled at Town's poor away run. He said: “They came to Sheffield United and battered us and when it was 1-1 they had the chance to score and we went up the other end and scored instead. Even so after seeing the way they played I'm amazed they have not won away as yet.

“If you go on a bit of a run then that breeds confidence and when Ipswich get that first win they will go on a roll - let's just hope that first win is at Hillsbrough.”