Ipswich Town striker George Hirst believes he has 'proved a few doubters wrong' after playing a key role in the club's promotion to the Premier League.

The 25-year-old striker was handed limited chances by loan clubs Rotherham and Blackburn during his two previous stints in the Championship.

As a result, the tall and mobile front man arrived at Portman Road with fire in his belly in January 2023. He helped propel the Blues to League One promotion, pushed hard for his temporary switch from Leicester to be turned into a £1.5m transfer and subsequently provided seven goals and seven assists as another step up the pyramid was secured.

"I don't think people realise how big of an achievement this is," said Hirst, speaking to BBC Suffolk. "I know I certainly do. I've been in the Championship a couple of times before and it's not gone my way. This season I've proved a few doubters wrong. 

"At the start of the season the lads all said 'we can achieve whatever we want to achieve' and, yeah, here we are."

On his move from Leicester last summer, he reflected: "There was no choice to make. I wanted to come back here and that was it. Anyone else could have come in, but this is where my heart was set.

"I tried so hard to come here and it was for this reason. I said that if we play the way we can play then we'll be a match for anyone in this division and we've proved that is the case. For us to be second in the division after 46 games is absolutely mad.

"It's the greatest moment of my career and it's going to take some beating. That's not to say it can't be beaten, and I certainly hope it is beaten, but as of right now this is the best and will be the best for a while."

Hirst ruptured his hamstring in the Boxing Day draw against the Foxes at Portman Road and subsequently underwent surgery. He returned, however, to play an important part in the final three games of the season against Hull, Coventry and Huddersfield.

"It wasn't guaranteed when I was injured, it was touch-and-go, so to come back a couple of weeks early and be able to get out on the pitch and help the boys was massive for me," he said.

"I'm just lost for words, I can't even begin to describe how I feel. It's just delight, elation. I'm just so proud of every single person associated with the club."

On the prospect of playing in the Premier League, he added: "That sounds nice that, doesn't it?! That sounds alright! I could probably get used to that!

"It's a boyhood dream. Everyone wants to play in the Premier League. It's the best league in the world, so to have the opportunity to play in it is just massive. Thanks to everyone associated with the club. We couldn't have done it without one another. We stuck together right to the end."