NEW recruit James Norwood ticks plenty of boxes for Ipswich Town.

On one hand, he's a proven, prolific frontman - in form and in his prime.

But he's also hungry with a point to prove, desperate to seize his chance and impress at a higher level.

At face value, it's a perfect combination and no wonder fans have reacted so positively, with such excitement.

Of course, Town's track record in terms of last summer's signings offers a cautionary tale.

Players at similar stages of their career came to conquer, yet struggled to pull up trees in a failing Championship side (Janoi Donacien, Jordan Roberts and, to a lesser extent, Kayden Jackson).

However, it feels different with Norwood, who has joined on a free transfer and signed a three-year contract at Portman Road.

His record, albeit at the lower level, makes mighty impressive reading.

The 28-year-old was the country’s top scorer last season with 32 goals for Tranmere as they won promotion to League One and was named in his divisional Team of the Year.

The previous year, he bagged 23 goals as they won promotion to League Two by the same route - the play-offs - and returned to the EFL after a three-year stay in the National League.

In total, he netted 93 times in 180 games for the Wirral club.

Impressive, for sure.

He's cut the mustard lower down the football pyramid and now needs to repeat those heroics at League One level.

By all accounts, he's a special talent and someone capable of scoring an avalanche of goals - crucially, the very thing Ipswich lack.

Town's defensive frailties were evident with alarming regularity but it was their inability to create chances, or bury the ones they did fashion, that ultimately led to their demise and set them on the slippery slope to relegation.

Clearly, that needs to change next season with hopes high - and seemingly mounting every day - for a swift return to the Championship.

Norwood could, hopefully, become a pivotal piece in the jigsaw.

Only time will tell but I totally get - and share - that positivity.