Top scorer Macauley Bonne insists the fact that he has not managed to find the net in his last nine games is not playing on his mind as he looks to impress new boss Kieran McKenna.

The Ipswich-born striker, who is on a season-long loan from QPR, made a tremendous start to the current campaign, netting the 11 goals he has so far contributed in the space of just 16 league games.

But since then he has drawn a blank and the goal famine now covers a further seven League One fixtures plus two FA Cup appearances, both coming in the first ties against Oldham and Barrow before the Blues exited the competition at the second round stage in Cumbria last week.

Asked how the drought was affecting him, Bonne replied: “I’m not frustrated at all. I’m a striker and I’ve been through it in my career many times and I’ll go through it again many times.

“I’m on 11 goals before Christmas and I said to myself before I came here in the summer ‘Just go and get between five and 10 goals before Christmas and then have the conversation afterwards’.

“With where I’m at now I’m happy with what I’m doing and really looking forward to cracking on and scoring more goals for this club.”

Bonne will be hoping that Town’s recent change of manager, with Kieran McKenna arriving this week to fill the gap left by Paul Cook’s departure almost three weeks ago, could bring about a change of fortune in front of goal.

But while the goals have dried up at least Bonne made a key contribution in the 1-1 home draw with Sunderland last week in setting up the opening goal for strike partner James Norwood as interim boss John McGreal decided to go 3-5-2 from the start in his fourth and last game in temporary control of team affairs.

So what sort of impression has new boss McKenna made in his first few days at Portman Road, having left his role as first team coach at Manchester United to accept the challenge offered to him by chief executive Mark Ashton on behalf of the club hierarchy?

“He’s a really positive guy who talks as if he’s ready to come in, get a hold of the club and take us forward,” said 26-year-old Bonne.

“Seeing where he has come from and what he has done in his career so far would make it exciting for anyone working under him, especially when you consider he is coming from being the first team coach at a club like United.

“We were all looking to impress him in his first training session, around the building and then hopefully in his first game in charge.

“It’s still early days but the main thing that came across is that he wants to get us playing and to be enjoying our football again.

“I think that was the main thing he said. We’ll soon know over the next few weeks, with the training sessions we have and what style of play he wants us to play and I’m really looking forward to it along with the rest of the players.”

There has been mounting speculation in recent weeks that parent club QPR could call time on Bonne’s loan deal in the January transfer window, which could be a serious blow to Town’s chances of pushing for a play-off place during the second half of the League Two season.

But Bonne said: “I’m on a season-long loan so the way I see it, yes, I’m going to be here until the end of the season.

“That’s probably as much as I can say on that front until further notice. I’m doing something at the moment that I’ve always wanted to do and now that I’m doing it I don’t want it to end.

“I’m on a season-long loan and I’m working my hardest to get Ipswich back into the Championship so that is what I’m going to focus on, nothing else.

“It’s the same with the African Cup of Nations and whether I’ll be part of the Zimbabwe squad. Personally, I think that ship has sailed for me at the minute.

“We’re not going through a good time with the management and I just want to focus on playing for Ipswich. The prospect of playing international football is probably only going to be at the back of my mind until further notice.”

Photo: Matchday Images

JCBLUE added 06:36 - Dec 23 Phil, a few references to League 2 need to be corrected! :-)
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tomitfc added 06:51 - Dec 23 Only playing because he's a town fan.. change my mind.
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BlueRuin69 added 07:46 - Dec 23 Keep going, goals will flow again. Coyb
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MickMillsTash added 08:52 - Dec 23 He's done well to score and lately been so isolated Could do with staying onside.
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itsonlyme added 08:57 - Dec 23 He'll be ok! Needs better service which I'm sure will come. COYB!
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dirtydingusmagee added 09:00 - Dec 23 all strikers go through these spells, he was never going to keep up his goal fest , He will hit a good run again with better service. Need to sign him.
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dangerous30 added 10:50 - Dec 23 I think it's a blessing because if he had carried on scoring he would of been called back to QPR in my opinion. Hopefully he starts scoring again
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Linkboy13 added 10:57 - Dec 23 Can't believe the amount of numpties on here who are writing him off because he's hit a barren run. Some even saying he's not as good as Norwood. He's played at a much higher level than Norwood for one thing .
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Beattiesballbag added 11:07 - Dec 23 At the moment we don't see any passes through the middle on the ground for the forwards, to add to our lob it in the box approach, the question is are the midfield not good enough or is there not enough movement off the ball to encourage these passes, hopefully McKenna will see the problem & sort it.....but as has already been mentioned, at times it doesn't look like he is making any effort to get back on side. that for a start would help.

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dirtydingusmagee added 11:28 - Dec 23 strikers need support, once that is sorted the goals will come again .We have a new manager now, lets see if he can get the players playing to their strengths.
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PortmanTerrorist added 12:10 - Dec 23 MB has been a breath of fresh air and no one can score a goal if they not receiving the ball. In MB and Nors we have 2 players who have shown that when chances are presented they can take them at this level. the problem has not been there but in a turgid midfield (Evans has been literally been strolling ever since his hattrick) and imbalance in the wide areas. Some corrections were made for Sunderland, but until we get more out of midfield in particular, MB, Nors, even Piggott are not going to prolific. Dip in goal stats (i really do not think it is form) may help us secure MB in Jan for a sensible price.....before he goes on his next run of form and goals.

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RobITFC added 12:17 - Dec 23 If Burn's stays fit you'll be ok!
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 13:07 - Dec 23 I suspect we will sign him and I hope Walton. About KMcK: "Wants us to be enjoying and playing our football again". When coupled with comments by others about shackles coming off, and general paucity of footballing one is left wondering what has been going on in training. I am really looking forward to the rest of the season now we have a proper coach/manager.

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BangaloreBlues added 13:30 - Dec 23 Even the likes of Messi and Ronaldo go through these spells. No worries from me, he'll be back scoring again soon and will continue where he left off. Shame the Gills match is off, that was a cert three-pointer for me! Bring on Wycombe, but there are fears of a total lockdown soon so no fans after having sold most of the tickets will be a right kick in the teeth.

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dirtydingusmagee added 16:38 - Dec 23 im more concerned about Pigott to be honest, Havnt seen anything special when he has had an opportunity.
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therein61 added 18:13 - Dec 23 "IpswichT62Oldboy" Agree we need him and Walton signed re your comments about what's has been going on in training i have been commenting on the lack of experience of the multitude of so called coaches that Mr Cook brought in which was clearly jobs for mates they commanded little or no respect from the players who were left bewildered by the lack of professionalism which comes with experience and these people had none therefore a side taking the field bemused!! i think we will(and the players) see a marked difference under Kieran as i think Cook had lost the plot completely.

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DavoIPB added 19:08 - Dec 23 Beattiesballbag exactly that. Somebody who has coached at semi pro level commented that all the balls to the strikers are at head height. The one time we okay the ball to feet to Bonne we score a goal.
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DifferentGravy added 19:11 - Dec 23 Bonne has done really well leading the line, notching 11. Had a dip in form and missed a few chances but lets not forget there were several games where the team barely mustered a chance for him......Rotherham/Charlton being prime examples.....and he cant be expected to do it all by himself. Has a great attitude and really wants Town to do well. Hopefully combo of new manager/strike partner(Norwood) will recharge the batteries.

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JewellintheTown added 05:25 - Dec 24 Think the uncertainty of returning to QPR has affected him, whether he realises or not. Hopefully he stays & then can get that monkey off his back & return to form. Hopefully McKenna & Co can build him up & give him a refreshed lease of life.
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Linkboy13 added 12:15 - Dec 24 Yes dirtydingus Pigott has been very poor hasn't shown any urgency or desire to deserve a place in the team. Wouldn't be surprised if he moved on in the transfer window which would give us a better chance to bring someone else in.
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