DARYL Murphy didn't beat about the bush as he met up with his new Blues team mates for the first time.

Elvin King

DARYL Murphy didn't beat about the bush as he met up with his new Blues team mates for the first time.

The 26-year-old striker is on loan from Sunderland until the end of the season and he had this message for Town fans concerned about the lowly Championship position.

“I've come here to play games,” said the player with seven full Republic of Ireland caps who cost the Black Cats �1million when they signed him from Waterford in June 2005. “And to help Ipswich move up the table.”

Murphy has been linked with a move to Portman Road for a couple of years now and was reported to have undergone a medical last summer before an 11th hour hitch to a planned permanent transfer.

He has been left frustrated at the lack of first-team matches he has played under the management of Steve Bruce at Sunderland, and added: “I've not played anywhere near the games I would have liked recently.

“The chance to do that at Ipswich was a key factor in coming here.

“Sunderland had a few injuries recently so I played two or three games.

“But I've never had a real run in the team.

“And I've not played in what I see as my best position, which is up front.”

Murphy was already on the books when current Ipswich manager Roy Keane took over the Sunderland hot seat in 2006.

He enjoyed working with his fellow Irishman and is looking forward to linking up again.

“The chance to work with the manager here is obviously another attraction to this move,” added Murphy.

“I was sorry to see him leave Sunderland because I enjoyed playing for him.

“He knows what he wants from you and I know how he works.”

Murphy had no qualms about joining a club that is too near the bottom of the Championship for comfort and admits he is surprised to see Town in their current predicament.

“Ipswich should be in a much better position with players they have at this club,” he went on.

“I know a lot of the lads here and not just the Sunderland ones. I've played with or against Owen Garvan, Damien Delaney, Jon Stead, Brian Murphy and a few of the others and they're all good footballers.”

Jon Walters is involved in a race against time to be available for selection against Middlesbrough on Saturday. The Blues skipper suffered a hamstring tear in the FA Cup defeat at Southampton on January 23 and has missed the last two matches.

Goalkeeper Brian Murphy is not expected to have recovered from an ankle ligament problem in time to be involved against Gordon Strachan's side.

A planned reserve league game against Luton Town on Tuesday was called off with Ipswich struggling to field a side because of an FA Youth Cup game that night.

Ipswich have confirmed that striker Stern John has returned to Crystal Palace after scoring one goal while on loan for two months at Portman Road.