x

Tunnicliffe: I'd Love to Stay On - Ipswich Town News

Ryan Tunnicliffe has given the thumbs-up to extending his loan at Ipswich but knows the final decision will not be his.

Tunnicliffe, who will make his eighth successive first team start when league leaders Burnley come to Porman Road this weekend, is due to return to Manchester United in January.

But Town boss Mick McCarthy has already spoken about the possibility of the 20-year-old midfielder staying on for the entire season and Tunnicliffe is not against the idea.

He said: "I’m enjoying it and I’m playing — if I wasn’t I wouldn’t want to — so I don’t see any reason why not. It’s up to the boss back at United and what he wants to do with me so I’ll have to leave it up to him.

"I speak to [Manchester United's U21s manager] Warren Joyce a lot. I’m close to him and he rings me all the time. He asks how it is going for me and gives me a few pointers because he comes to a lot of the matches.

"If another young player at United had a chance to come to Ipswich on loan I would recommend it because it’s a great club, first and foremost.

"It’s a big club and there’s a great manager here. I would definitely recommend it and the style of football we play is getting better and better. We’re passing the ball more and it’s working for us.”

Tunnicliffe was given his first league start when McCarthy rang the changes for Town’s visit to Birmingham at the end of August and since then has helped to collect 12 points from a possible 21.

He added: "Obviously playing is better for me but I knew I would have to work my way into the team. I had to be patient for my chance and now I’m in I just want to keep my place.

"It’s a new team for me so I have to learn how people play as well. It was hard for the first few games but now I’m getting to know everyone much better. I’ve been here two and a half to three months and I think I’ve been doing alright but now I want to kick on and get even better.”

Tunnicliffe believes he has progressed considerably since loan stints in the Championship with Peterborough — he was a second-half substitute in Town’s shock 7-1 defeat there in August 2011 — and Barnsley.

He said: "I was only young when I went to Peterborough and I was basically there for experience. But now, I think, I’m a more mature man and I can handle playing every week — Saturday and Tuesday if need be — and I just want to do that.”

What to read next:

Gamechanger Launches Data and Property Companies
Town’s owner Gamechanger 20 Ltd has launched data and property companies, its accounts for the year to June 2024 have revealed.
First Lady of Town Godbold Celebrates 90th Birthday
Pat Godbold, the first lady of Ipswich Town, is celebrating her 90th birthday today.
Five Could Win Caps
Five Town players are with international squads set for action later today.
Free Entry to Wardley-Huni Weigh-In
The weigh-in ahead of Fabio Wardley’s interim WBA World Heavyweight title fight against Justis Huni at Portman Road on Saturday takes place at Ipswich Town Hall today at lunchtime and is open to the public free of charge.
Hutchinson in England U21s Squad
Town forward Omari Hutchinson has been named in the England U21s squad for the European Championship in Slovakia next month, but former Blues striker Liam Delap has been left out.
Al-Hamadi Red-Carded For Iraq
Town striker Ali Al-Hamadi was red-carded after 25 minutes of his return to the Iraq side in this evening’s World Cup qualifier against South Korea in Basra.
Emmanuel-Thomas Sentenced to Four Years in Jail
Ex-Blues forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was sentenced to four years in prison at Chelmsford Crown Court this afternoon having pleaded guilty to his involvement in a plot to smuggle class B drugs into the UK last month.
Burgess's Australia All But Confirm World Cup Qualification
Cameron Burgess’s Australia all but confirmed qualification for the 2026 World Cup after a 90th-minute Aziz Behich goal saw them to a 1-0 victory over Japan in Perth this afternoon.
Premier League Trio Linked With O'Shea
Blues central defender Dara O’Shea is reported to be interesting his former club Burnley, Wolves and Leeds United.
Head of Analysis Leaves Town
Town’s head of analysis Jamie Osman has left the club after a year to set up an analysis consultancy.