Stead vows to keep his joy under wraps should his return yield a Robins goal

Stead’s exit proved in mark contrast and is likely to grant him an appreciative welcome on his return to Portman Road tomorrow.

It is a policy he had adopted before; and was put to good use when Stead scored for Sheffield United against another of his former employers, Blackburn Rovers, in the Premiership.

“It’s a case of being respectful,” he told the Post.

“I had a good relationship with the Blackburn fans and it’s the same with Ipswich. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and the fans were great to me. They got behind me and backed me, even when I wasn’t playing well, and that’s something I’ll always remember.

“I certainly won’t be rubbing it in if I score on Saturday.”

Nor does he head back to Suffolk seeking to rub his former manager up the wrong way; there is little sign of an axe to grind as Stead explained his side of this week’s long-expected switch.

Out with the old, in with the new was the gist – that is football’s way. Stead out, Jason Scotland in.

“I definitely don’t have anything to prove to the manager,” he said.

“I understand the reasons for me having to leave. He wanted to bring in new players and we parted on good terms, which is nice. I’m more concerned with doing a good job for Bristol City and putting my career back on track.

“Inconsistency has been my biggest enemy and I think that explains why I did not play every week at Ipswich. I would play three or four games and then have a bad one and be out.

“While that was frustrating at the time, I realise I was not entirely blameless,” he added, displaying the kind of honesty all-too rare in the modern game. It should serve him well reception-wise tomorrow.

Certainly Keane wasn’t bearing any ill-will. Quite the reverse – as his match-day programme notes will reveal.

“In an ideal world, I would have liked to have kept Jon here,” Keane wrote, his thoughts published by the club’s official site ahead of tomorrow’s early reunion.

“But he had a good offer from Bristol City – one we couldn’t match,” he added.

Stead also found Blackpool courting him; in the meantime, however, he ‘put a shift in’ away at Palace. Something that duly earned the manager’s lasting respect.

“We were down to the bare bones and needed him,” Keane revealed. “It’s a short career, football, and some players in his position would have said that they are not mentally right to play. Or they have a virus.

“Steady didn’t. He showed what being a good professional is all about.”.