Ipswich Town to improve Aaron Cresswell deal

Cresswell played 70 league games for Tranmere before joining Ipswich in the summer

Ipswich Town boss Paul Jewell has said he will offer an improved contract to summer signing Aaron Cresswell.

The 21-year-old left-back has played every minute of every league game since arriving from Tranmere on a three-year deal in July.

"I said to his agent at the start of the season 'if he does well, we'll improve his deal'," Jewell told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"I won't let him sit back and relax, and he won't, he wants to kick on."

Cresswell's performances this season have made him a stand-out addition to the Portman Road ranks, among a list of new arrivals which also included Michael Chopra, Lee Bowyer and Jay-Emmanuel Thomas.

"It took a while, four to six weeks I think, before he thought he belonged here, but he's come on a bundle and we think there's a lot more in him," said Jewell.

"We want to reward him because he's proved he's a valuable member of the squad.

"When we signed him, everybody was talking about Chopra and others, but Cressy might turn out to be one of our top signings."

The full-back, whose move could cost Ipswich over £500,000 depending on appearances, has admitted he has established himself in the Championship quicker than expected.

"My main target when I first came down was to just try to work my way into the team and to fight for the left-back position," he explained.

"If any young lad does well I'm sure the gaffer will reward them."

Meanwhile, Jewell has refused to rule out defender Ibrahima Sonko for Saturday's visit of Crystal Palace, but rates the centre-half as "doubtful".

Sonko came off an hour into Tuesday's win over Portsmouth with a hamstring problem.