Colin Healy has told the Club website of his delight at being given the chance to make an impact in English football again.

The 29-year-old midfielder has joined Town from Cork for an undisclosed fee, signing a two year deal and could feature for Blues in Saturday's testimonial against Colchester.

Colin started his career at Celtic before joining Sunderland in 2003 but his stay with the Black Cats was marred by injury, with the Republic of Ireland international suffering two broken legs in this three year stay there.

He had a trial at Town before joining Barnsley in 2006 and a year later he joined his hometown club, Cork

"The move to Ipswich came out of the blue," Colin told the Club website.

"I was going to Hartlepool last week when the manager rang me and asked me to come down for a chat.

"I have played against Ipswich a few times and I know it's a very good club. It looks like it's a club on the up and I'm glad to be part of it.

"The manager has very high ambitions here and that's the way it should be. He's proved what a good manager he is and I'm really looking forward to my time here.

"It's another challenge for me now to step up to a higher level and I'm ready for it. There are some big teams in the Championship, with the clubs coming down from the Premier League, and there are some good players in the league. There's a strong squad here though and I think we've got a good chance of doing well.

"With the injuries I had I did think that at one stage I might not get back at all and then having gone back to Ireland, I probably thought that I would stay back there and play in the League of Ireland.

"I was playing okay at Cork though and now I've got the chance to play at a higher level again, I'm delighted."