He was once the darling of the Portman Road terraces and a devil on the pitch.

Now Town fans will today find out whether Mauricio Taricco is nasty or nice with Brighton boss Gus Poyet considering throwing the fans favourite into an emotional return ON the pitch this afternoon.

Taricco, Poyet’s assistant at the Championship’s fifth-placed side, made an unexpected league appearance for the Seagulls side on Tuesday night – at 38 years old.

And while the fiery Argentinian is having second thoughts about whether he wants to carry on playing, Poyet heaped praise on his number two’s performamve following the 3-1 defeat by Crystal Palace.

Town fans fondly remember Taricco for his all-action style of play, his bust-up – and tears – against Sheffield United and high-profile goals against Norwich, Manchester United and Crystal Palace.

But on the eve of his return to Ipswich, Paul Jewell’s memories of the fiery full-back are somewhat different.

“I remember him being an annoying little so-and-so,” joked Jewell. “He was obviously a good footballer, but feisty. Though I’m told he’s a nice guy off the pitch.”

Nasty or nice, full-back or in the dugout, Taricco is guaranteed a fantastic reaction from the Blue Army this afternoon.

And the feeling is mutual.

“I didn’t care about other players, fans, clubs, Ipswich was my number one and nothing else mattered,” said Taricco, speaking earlier this year.

“While it was always my dream to play in the Premier League, which happened when I moved to Tottenham, my best days were with Ipswich.”