Danny Haynes is sick of being the forgotten man at Portman Road.

The Ipswich Town winger has been forced to bide his time and be patient this season, only starting three matches and often failing to make a spot on the bench.

His last start was way back in the opening fortnight of the campaign but now, finally, he appears to have forged his way back into contention.

Haynes, who scored twice in Town’s 4-1 Carling Cup success against Leyton Orient in August, has been on the bench for the last five games and played the final 20 minutes of Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat at Cardiff.

It’s certainly a marked improvement on September, October and November, when he almost disappeared off the radar, and he told the Gazette: “I’ve had to be mentally strong this season and be ready to come in if needed.

“In the past I wouldn’t have reacted as well as I have in the last four months.

“Being left out used to affect me and I couldn’t accept being dropped.

“But now I’ve grown up and matured as a player and as a person.

“I can see the bigger picture. I realise it’s been hard for the manager to try and keep everybody happy with the big squad he has at the moment.”

With Town currently experiencing such mixed fortunes, boss Jim Magilton may well look to explore his options and turn to someone like Haynes.

That’s certainly the 20-year-old’s hope and he said: “I haven’t played as much as I would have liked but, now I’m back on the bench, I’m determined to win my place back.

“I feel I’ve matured on and off the pitch and I want to show the fans the improvements I’ve made.”

Town head to Coventry City tomorrow, hoping to blow away the cobwebs of last Saturday’s defeat at home to Cardiff.