x

McKenna: Tuanzebe's Had a Good Week, Phillips and Cajuste Still Struggling - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Kieran McKenna has no new injury concerns to deal with ahead of Saturday’s home game against Brentford, while Axel Tuanzebe had a good week’s training and Ben Johnson is back from suspension but Kalvin Phillips and Jens Cajuste are still not fully fit.

Johnson missed last week’s 2-2 draw at Everton having been sent off for two bookable offences at Newcastle the previous Saturday, while Leif Davis is still out having received a three-match ban for his straight red card against Arsenal.

Tuanzebe made his return after aggravating his earlier hamstring problem as a late sub at Goodison Park.

Phillips and Cajuste also came off the bench against the Toffees but still aren’t training fully due to an achilles issue for the on-loan Manchester City man and the Napoli loanee’s knee problem which has been managed all season.

"Ben Johnson’s back from suspension, Leif Davis is in the last game of his suspension,” McKenna said.

"Axel came through the week well. He got a handful of minutes last weekend but he’s had a good training week.

"Still struggling a little bit with Kalvin Phillips and Jens Cajuste in terms of the ongoing issues they have and getting them fully available to train and get to their best.

"They’re both in and around it but we’ll have to make a decision tomorrow as both are still carrying injuries. And I don’t think there’s anything else new from where we’ve been.”

McKenna confirmed that Nathan Broadhead (thigh) and Conor Townsend (hamstring) remain unavailable.

Better news is that Sammie Szmodics, who has been out having undergone ankle surgery, could play before the end of the campaign.

"There’s still a chance he could be involved this season, in the last couple of games. We’re still on three,” the Blues boss continued.

"He’s not too far away, he’s rehabbing well and he’s working out on the grass. Not with the group, but hopefully he’ll be around it in the next few weeks.”

What to read next:

Young Close to Completing Town Move
Veteran former England international Ashley Young is close to completing a move to the Blues on a one-year deal.
Former Town Youth Coach Owen Dies
Former Town youth coach Brian Owen has died, aged 80.
Emmanuel-Thomas Joins AFC Totton
Ex-Town forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has joined National League South AFC Totton following his release from prison on parole.
Young Watches Son as U21s Beat Needham
Former England star and apparent Town target Ashley Young watched his son Tyler feature as a trialist for Town's U21s on Tuesday evening as they beat 10-man Needham Market 2-1 at Bloomfields in a pre-season friendly.
Young Watching Town U21s at Needham
Veteran former England international Ashley Young is watching Town’s U21s in friendly action at Needham Market with his son Tyler on trial with John McGreal’s squad.
Blues Beaten By Hammers in Behind Closed Doors Friendlies
Town played two 60-minute behind-closed-doors friendlies with West Ham United at their Rush Green training ground this afternoon.
Halajko New Director of Football Operations, Chenery Appointed Academy Manager
Dmitri Halajko, previously Town’s academy director, has been appointed the new director of football operations, TWTD having revealed Gary Probert’s departure for a job at Liverpool a fortnight ago, while Ben Chenery has been named academy manager.
Town Women Sign Striker Dean
Ipswich Town Women have signed striker Rianna Dean following her Southampton exit at the end of last season.
Chaplin: Opener at Birmingham One to Look Forward To
Ipswich Town’s season opener against Birmingham City is a clash that the whole squad are looking forward to, according to forward Conor Chaplin.
Fourteen Sign Contracts Ahead of WSL2 Campaign
Town have confirmed that 14 players have signed new contracts with the women’s side for the WSL2 season ahead.