Three is proving to be the magic number for Ipswich Town.

First there was Aaron Cresswell, then Tyrone Mings, now it’s Jonas Knudsen – the club’s left-back production line has once again come up trumps.

Two-cap Danish international Knudsen, 22, was plucked from Esbjerg this summer, Town activating a buy-out clause in the region of £300k after assistant boss Terry Connor twice flew over to watch him in action.

And the 6ft 1in full-back has become an instant hit with Blues fans, impressing against three tricky opponents in Jota (Brentford), Ross Wallace (Sheffield Wednesday) and George Boyd (Burnley) as Mick McCarthy’s men have made a super start to the season.

“I guess the biggest compliment I can give him is that we’re not really missing Ty,” said McCarthy, speaking of the long-throw specialist.

“All the fans, myself, Terry (Connor), we all loved Ty, he was terrific, but you can’t see the join I’m afraid. Jonas has come in and nailed that position. He’s been terrific so far.”

Cresswell was signed by Paul Jewell from League One side Tranmere in 2011 for a tribunal set fee – initially £240k, with a further £90k paid for appearances.

The Liverpudlian was a virtual ever-present for Town over three seasons before being sold to Premier League club West Ham for £3.75m last summer, going on to enjoy a remarkable debut campaign with the Hammers.

Mings – a £10k recruit from lower level non-league outfit Chippenham Town – then enjoyed his fairytale rise, moving on to newly-promoted Premier League outfit Bournemouth in an £8m deal this summer following his rapid rise to prominence.

“I can’t take any credit for Cressy, I maybe helped him get out of the rut he was supposedly in when I joined, but you’ve got to give Paul (Jewell) that credit. I’ll take the credit for the other two though, along with TC (Terry Connor).”

On Knudsen, who has taken to Championship football like a duck to water, McCarthy added: “I guess it depends which league they come from as to how quickly they adjust. The Skandianvian countries are pretty tough.

“He looked like he had all the attributes to play in the Championship when we scouted him. We trained this morning and he’s the one shouting and encouraging. We’re delighted with him, he looks like a good signing.”