Jordan Spence hopes he can earn himself a longer-term contract at Ipswich Town.

The versatile 26-year-old – who has played at right-back, right wing-back and centre-back – has made 10 starts and two substitute appearances for the Blues since joining as a free agent in January.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s Championship game at Fulham, he said: “I’ve been pleased with how I’ve been performing. Like always, there are things I could have done better. I’m enjoying it though and when you enjoy it you play well.” Asked if he wanted to stay at Portman Road, he said: “I’ve always said yes to that. Is it out of my control? I guess it’s in my control because if I keep playing well enough then I guess they would quite like to keep me.”

On his battle for a starting spot with homegrown youngster Josh Emmanuel, the ex-West Ham and MK Dons player said: “He’s a good young pro, a really good footballer and we’ve both slid in and out of the team.

“We’ve got a really good relationship. We’ve spent a little bit of time off the field talking about life and football.

“It’s good. Competition brings out the best of people in any working environment. The better he played made me more hungry to be better.”

With Town now nine points above the Championship drop zone following Tuesday night’s 3-0 home win over Wigan, Spence – whose wife Naomi Scott is a Hollywood actress – said: “I don’t like to use the terminology ‘relegation battle’ for the position that we were in. For me, that wasn’t a relegation battle. It was an awareness that we were closer to the bottom than we were to the top.

“I try not to worry about anything to be honest. Without trying to sound too philosophical, there’s a John Berger quote that goes ‘anxiety only robs you of life’s pleasures’.

I don’t worry, I just put my boots on, run around and play football.

“One of the few mantras that I have is ‘you’re never as good as they say you are, and you’re never as bad as they say you are’.”

He added: “I’d be lying if I said you can’t tell that the fans are over enamoured by how the season has gone, but I’d also be lying if I said it felt like a hostile environment which I was glad to be playing away from.

“I know this from playing against Ipswich Town; when we’re on the front foot, aggressive and we’re positive then we can really hurt teams. If we do that from now until the end of the season then we will improve our league position and hopefully improve the feeling from those who have been disappointed.”

Blues boss Mick McCarthy said: “I’m very please with Jordan. He came in right at the start of pre-season and I let him go, he came back in January and I thought he had the bit between his teeth.

“I don’t have to talk him up. He’s played most of the games since he’s come in and I thought he was excellent on Tuesday night.

“Let’s hope it’s not the summer before we know we are mathematically safe. As soon as that’s the case we can talk to him.”