Ipswich Town new boy Kevin Foley has a burning desire to prove himself all over again in the Championship.

Once a regular at right-back for the Republic of Ireland and Wolves, the 31-year-old endured a frustrating injury-hit spell at Danish club FC Copenhagen last season and was released just before he had to undergo shoulder surgery.

Fate has seen him reunited with Mick McCarthy at Portman Road, following an uncertain few months of trials and training on his own, and now he’s keen to remind everyone what he can do.

“I’ve been away in another country and now I’ve got to prove myself all over again as a Championship player,” said the versatile defender, who is set to be on the bench for tonight’s home game against Reading (7.45pm) – a club he almost joined a few months back prior to Steve Clarke’s sacking.

“I dislocated my shoulder in my first game in Denmark and ended up being away from my family and unable to play. It was a tough time, but I guess some things just aren’t meant to be.

“When you’ve had a long-term injury and you’re approaching your 30s you realise you’ve got to do everything you can to make the most of what you’ve got left. That’s my attitude at the moment.

“I trained at Shrewsbury for a bit, then a move to Reading fell through, then I texted TC (Town assistant manager Terry Connor) to see if I could come in here. It was a bit of luck that a door opened for me with Jonny Parr leaving, but I also had to be ready to take that chance.

“I’m going to really embrace this opportunity and hopefully prove to people I can still play at a good level. I come in early and work before training and stay and do extra afterwards too because it’s been very stop-start for me in the last few years and I feel like I’ve got a lot of making up to do. Sometimes I think age is just a number and it’s more about how much you want it – and I really do want it.”