Ipswich Town fans will soon see why the club splashed out £1.5m on the signing of Paul Taylor.

That’s according to Blues loanee Ryan Tunnicliffe, the man who formed a close relationship with Taylor when he himself was on loan at Peterborough.

Town paid a rare seven-figure fee to sign Taylor from Posh on summer transfer deadline day last year, but he sustained a bad ankle injury in only his third game for his new employers and was ruled out for the rest of the campaign.

Blues boss Mick McCarthy sent the 26-year-old back to Peterborough on a short-term loan last month and he’s started up front for the League One club in four successive victories.

Town have the option of recalling Taylor following Saturday’s visit of Championship table-toppers Burnley, though it’s likely that McCarthy will allow him to see out the remainder of his temporary switch – playing in three more matches for Darren Ferguson’s side – before returning on November 1.

“I speak to him quite a lot – I’m always on the phone to him,” said Tunnicliffe, who was reunited with Taylor at Portman Road this summer, the pair having played together at Peterborough 18 months ago.

“This move is all about fitness for him.

“The more fitness he gets the sharper he’ll get. He’s a great player and I’m sure he’ll come back here and be brilliant for us.

“The type of player he is, he’s a game-changer. He always tries to beat people and he shoots on sight – that’s his policy. He always tells me he’s definitely going to score because of all the shots he has. That’s the confidence he’s got.”

Meanwhile, Tunnicliffe – whose own loan spell at Ipswich is set to expire at the end of the year – sees no reason why he won’t be staying longer.

He said: “Obviously I’m enjoying it. If I’m still playing come January then I see no reason why it wouldn’t be extended, but it’s up to the boss back at United (David Moyes) what he wants to do with me.

“I think I’m doing alright, but I want to kick on and do even better.”