The rapid winger has struggled since his £12m move to Suffolk from boyhood club Leicester City last summer, only starting ten league games and often being a target for criticism from fans.
But he played his best game in Blue against Birmingham, showing all the qualities – pace, physicality and directness – that made Town want to bring him to Portman Road.
Kasey McAteer celebrates his strike against Birmingham City (Image: Steve Waller)
Reflecting on his Ipswich journey so far, he said: “I’m not going to sit here and say that I’ve not been criticised and stuff, and that’s all part and parcel of being a footballer.
“I’ll be the first one to say that I’ve not hit the heights that I know I can hit. But, you know, everyone’s got their opinion.
“And hopefully I can just keep working hard for this club. And hopefully change a few of their opinions. That’s what I’m here to do.
“But I believe in myself. I believe in my teammates and the coaching staff. But the fans today were great with me.
“I think I had a little chant going on in there in the second half. And that was great. It gives you a bit more fire in your belly when you’re down and you’re feeling it in your legs to do that last little push and that last little sprint.
“So they were amazing today.”
Of the reasons behind his struggles to date, he added: “Many reasons. Obviously, it’s never easy moving clubs and moving to a whole different town and changing your whole life, you know.
“But that’s the part of football. Hopefully now, like I said, I’ve got my first one, so hopefully now I can just kick on and that’s what I’m looking to do.”
Kasey McAteer praised boss Kieran McKenna for his support (Image: Steve Waller)
Asked about having Kieran McKenna’s support, McAteer stressed that the backing from his boss has been key for him as he bids to find his feet at the club.
“He’s been brilliant,” he enthused. “I mean, he’s relentless with the next one, the next one, doing better, everything you can do. Little chats here and there. He’s been amazing.
“Hopefully I’ve repaid him today. I’ll look to keep doing that and keep on improving.”
So, now that McAteer has got his first goal, what can fans expect from him going forward?
“I’ll always run until my legs can’t do it no more,” he insisted. “That’s first and foremost in my game.
“But sometimes you do things that you don’t quite get the reward from in football and it’s just about the next one, and that’s what I did today.
“I didn’t think too much about the chance before, I just thought about the next one and that’s all you can do in football.”
Kasey McAteer has had to bounce back from a tough start at Town (Image: Ross Halls)
He continued: “Football is a confidence game. When you’re playing well and you’re scoring, you play your best football and you’re enjoying it.
“We’ve got a great bunch of lads in there and a great coaching staff and everyone believes in each other.
“So, into these last seven games, we’ve just got to keep that up now and it’s a real big push, the last seven games of the season.”
Those seven games, starting at old rivals Norwich City on Saturday, see second-placed Town have promotion in their own hands.
And McAteer stressed that the whole team will be needed for the final push towards the Premier League, regardless of their role.
Kasey McAteer says Town will need their whole squad in the final seven games (Image: Steve Waller)
“We’ve got a brilliant squad,” he enthused. “Brilliant quality starting on the pitch and then coming off the bench. So we’re going to need everyone.
“No matter if you’re starting the game, if you’re finishing the game, if you’re not involved in the game, we’re going to need everyone. And everyone knows that.
“Everyone’s ready to put in their contributions to this team and this last final push. And hopefully by May time, we can be where we want to be.”