Tyrone Mings hopes he has done enough to retain his place in the Ipswich Town side.

The 20-year-old made his home debut for the Blues in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to high-flying Leicester City, just shy of a year after he made a fairytale switch from non-league third tier side Chippenham Town.

Manager Mick McCarthy has been impressed by the way the 6ft 4in defender has taken a five-step leap up the football pyramid in his stride. He may have switched off for both of Blackpool’s goals at Bloomfield Road recently, but it was an impressive debut at Burnley last season, while he battled bravely through a bad knee injury at Reading and was solid against dangerous opposition at the weekend.

Now Aaron Cresswell, branded the ‘best left-back in the league’ by McCarthy, is available for selection again following a two-match suspension.

Asked if he felt he’d done enough to maintain his place in the side for Saturday’s trip to Charlton, he said: “Obviously I’d like to think so, but that’s for the manager to decide. The more opportunities I get the more I’ll learn. Every day I’m learning.

“I’ve loved every minute of being in the side over the last few weeks, especially playing in front of the home crowd for the first time.

“As funny as it sounds, I don’t think there is much difference in what I’m doing now compared to what I was doing before in non-league. At this level you need to be a bit more consistent, you have to be a bit quicker and you have to read the game better at times.

“Cressie is a fantastic player and I’ve still got a lot to learn, I’m just grateful to be here and getting these opportunities.”

McCarthy said: “Ty’s great. He’s a real fine young player and fella. He had a tough day playing against a real quick forward (Lloyd Dyer), but I thought he handled it well. I think he can jump higher than I used to!”