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Only Bolton have had more shots at goals than Ipswich during this infant Championship season, with Town having 96 attempts, 40 on-target and 56 off.

With a paltry five goals scored, the Championship’s second worst team are finding the net once in every 19 shots at goal.

Against such a staggeringly poor statistic, Jason Scotland has insisted he wants to be more than just a bit-part player now he has grabbed his chance to impress manager Paul Jewell.

The veteran striker signed a new one-year deal in the summer and knew that he wouldn’t be a regular starter this season.

But injuries to Paul Taylor and Michael Chopra, and Scotland’s own decent goalscoring performance in the defeat to Charlton last weekend, has seen the former Trinidad and Tobago international reassess his own worth to the team.

“I want to play as much as I can and stake a claim,” said Scotland, who is an almost certain starter against Barnsley today.

“I gave everything I could against Charlton, I worked hard tracking back into midfield but unfortunately we could not get a result.

“The gaffer spoke to me at the start of the season and told me I was going to be a squad player who needed to stay fit for when I was needed.

“I came in, took my chance and I want to stay in the team now. I don’t want to be a squad player. I want to play in the first team until I am not doing well.

“There has been no midweek game this week so I have had a week to recover and I am fit and raring to go.”

Ahead of the clash with the Tykes and the speculation over manager Paul Jewell’s position, Scotland added: “

“After we lost at Middlesbrough, we targeted the next two home games (against Wolves and Charlton) to pick up six points but that didn’t happen.

“We have got to put our best foot forward for the game against Barnsley and focus on picking up three points.

“It’s tough picking up the players when you are losing week in, week out but we can’t feel sorry for ourselves.”