Ipswich Town forward Julio Enciso has thanked Blues boss Gary O’Neil for his continued trust after opening his account for the season in Friday’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest at Portman Road.

Neco Williams had volleyed Forest into an early lead, but Enciso pounced on a mistake at the back and calmly finished beyond Matz Sels to earn Town a battling point on a blustery Suffolk evening.

Since arriving in a £26m deal as one of the Blues’ marquee summer signings, the Paraguay international has become one of five players to have started all eight Premier League matches this term.

While manager O’Neil has been a new face to the vast majority of the Town squad, he has not been unfamiliar with Enciso, who scored nine goals during the second half of last season with French side Strasbourg.

Enciso revealed that he was eager to follow the Blues boss to Portman Road and return to the Premier League as soon as he became aware of the interest.

“He sent me a message. He told me about this challenge and when I hear Ipswich, I cannot say no. I’m really happy to join.

“We worked together before, and that’s helped as well. I try to give my best for him and for this team.

“He knows that I will give everything for him and for this team. That is the difference. I just want to say thank you to my team-mates because in every training they give me support and that’s really important for me.”

Enciso also has history with Town after scoring twice during a loan spell from Brighton and Hove Albion in the early months of 2025, although the Blues were ultimately relegated from the top flight with four matches to spare.

This time, the popular attacker is a permanent signing after signing a five-year contract in August, and arrives back in English football with different motivation.

He said: “I started the season, and that’s really important. At that time, it was in the middle, and it was harder. Now it’s different because we’ve signed great players as well. That helps as well for everyone, and we can do our job properly.

“That’s a lot different because I know that I will stay here. I try to do my best in every training session and in every game. I want our fans to know that I will give everything for them.”

In addition to the club feeling in a better place than it did 18 months ago, the same could be said for Enciso himself, who is hoping to find a footballing home in the Premier League.

The flashy forward has returned to Portman Road a more rounded footballer, with O’Neil’s influence clearly playing a significant role in how the 22-year-old has matured during his brief period away in France.

“I want to say thank you to my wife because I have stability, so thank you to her. I’ve definitely changed everything in my life, and that’s helped me to be calm and just focus on playing games.”

With three wins and 10 points so far from the opening eight matches, it has been a respectable return to life in the Premier League, and Enciso is full of belief that the Blues can have a successful campaign.

He added: “I hope so. We will try to do our best in every game.”