Town striker Kayden Jackson is poised to make his first senior start since March in tomorrow night’s Carabao Cup first round clash with Colchester at Portman Road and admits: “It will be a big moment for me.”

Jackson, now in his fifth season as a Blue after his £1 million-plus move from Accrington in the summer of 2018, is eager to impress manager Kieran McKenna, under whose influence he believes his game has greatly improved.

The pacy front man, who has so far netted 21 goals in 120 appearances in all competitions, was cruelly injured in the goalless home draw with Portsmouth last season when he pulled up with a hamstring problem and missed the final eight games of the campaign as Town’s play-off challenge fizzled out.

Jackson, 28, said: “When the injury came it was the worst possible time because I was feeling the best I had ever felt in an Ipswich shirt.

“Finally, I had the trust and the backing from my manager and it was going really well, so I want to get back out there again and show people what I can do.”

The Bradford-born player, who has become one of the longest-serving at the club and even signed a new contract in May to extend his stay by a further two years, made little progress under former managers Paul Cook and Paul Lambert.

He added: “It hadn’t been going well under the previous gaffers so I was keen to sign and get on with it. I’d had the injury, which required surgery, then the rehabilitation and it was a tricky one to see which route we were going to go down with the rehab. That was all factored into the contract and I just wanted to get back to full fitness.

“Who’d have thought we would have been saying I was one of the longest-serving players? I’ve heard it all, I’ve seen it all and I’ve read it all, so now I’m just hoping we can go on to have a successful season.

“There is more stability at the club and you can’t under-estimate the value of having a full pre-season together, especially with the way the boss likes to work, which is so intense and thorough.

“Everyone being tuned in from the first to the last moment of pre-season has been massive for us and should be a huge help now that we have started the season proper.”

Jackson, a second-half substitute in both Town’s league games this term, is excited at the prospect of being more involved in the current campaign and clearly believes the club is going places.

He said: “It is like the start of a brand new era — this is the Ipswich Town that I thought I was signing for back in 2018. The size of the club, everything is now working how it should be on all fronts.

“You can see it round the ground, what Mark Ashton and the owners who have invested in the club want to do. This is how Ipswich Town should be run.

“The fans can see it and are getting behind it and as players we want to be coming into training and know everything is going in the right direction. Finally it now seems to be running well on all fronts so it’s up to us as players to do our bit on the pitch.”

Jackson is particularly delighted about the rapport between him and McKenna, adding: “It’s incredible and I don’t take it for granted. Every day I am working with him I know for a fact that in however many years to come — one, two or three — he’ll be in the Premier League, so getting to work under someone of his calibre is massive for me.

“I come in every day eager and keen to learn from him. I’m just glad that I have been able to build a good relationship with him and that we have the trust in each other that we do.

“The boss has improved my game since he’s been here and it’s there for everyone to see. He has brought my confidence back 100 per cent. In the past here I was a shadow of the player I have become and the one who was successful at Accrington.

“He has helped me enormously and there is plenty more I can learn from him and show out on the pitch.

“He has worked with some of the best players and coaches in the game and you can see it. The detail, how thorough he is with everything, and then on the flip side he’s a good person and easy to get on with.

“There’s no one he won’t chat with and he’ll put his arm round lads when they need it, while he’ll still tell you if you’re doing something wrong and how to put it right.

“That’s probably the only part of the job that I felt he might struggle with, the man management side of it, because he hadn’t had to do it before, but he has been absolutely unbelievable about it and definitely one of the best I’ve worked with.

“All the lads feel the same and you can see it from how hard everyone is working for him from one game to the next.”

Jackson believes he could do a job for the team in any of the attacking roles. “Yes, there’s plenty of fluidity in there and everybody knows their own, and even each other’s, role within the side,” he said. “I like to think that whatever position he put me in I would be able to go out there and do a good job for him.”

He also praised fellow striker Tyreece John-Jules, who is on a season-long loan from Arsenal and likely to feature tomorrow.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with Ty in training and in the short time we have worked together on the pitch it seems to have clicked,” he added. “That was also the case throughout pre-season when I was obviously playing catch-up after my injury.

“I’ve been really impressed with him. Sometimes it can be difficult for young lads coming in from Premier League clubs, especially one the size of Arsenal, because they are expected to make an impact straight away, day to day and in games.

“He’s dealt with that expectation really well and everything he has done has been incredibly sharp, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of him in action.”

Photo: TWTD

ArnieM added 11:47 - Aug 8 Good on yer Jacko 👍. Here's hoping you smash it this season . You've clearly worked so hard snd never thrown your toys out if the pram like so many players do when things are not going well. I've much respect for you. I think you and JJ will scare the daylights out if defences : you're a great combination.
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Wallingford_Boy added 11:53 - Aug 8 Love you to prove me wrong, but just don't think you contribute enough when on the pitch. Have pace, but not much else.
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Bert added 12:08 - Aug 8 So pleased for this guy. We all had our doubts but there has always been a decent footballer in him. KMcK has done what others before him failed to do yet as ArnieM has said he did not throw his toys out of his pram. To have a manager who everyone respects and is playing for coupled with his interlect and nous, is the Ipswich Town we have all wanted.
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Suffolkboy added 12:14 - Aug 8 As a player it's always good to have confidence in your coach/ Manager ; in K M he's fortunate to find a knowledgeable / capable coach and man manager who can bring the best out of individuals and team units . Now is the time for him to reward ITFC and supporters by showing commitment and disciplined application to contribute all round ,and reveal the latent talent within . Go for it KJ –we'd all love to witness the new you ! COYB

3

itfchorry added 12:18 - Aug 8 Looks like a totally new player -
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NthQldITFC added 12:27 - Aug 8 I've got a lot of time for Jacko, and a feeling he could be a real key player for us this season. Top man.
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KernewekBlue added 12:36 - Aug 8 I was certainly one of those who thought, when his arrival and continued stay at the club wasn't yielding any noticeable benefit, that this lad was an overpriced, undertalented white elephant and should be shipped off as quick as possible. I'd have paid his bus fare myself! For me, the jury is still out on whether he'll make a success of his time at Ipswich but I can't fault his determination or his drive to want to improve. I really do wish him all the best in his efforts because if he succeeds, we all reap the rewards. Get out there and show us what you can really do, keep getting involved, keep banging the ball into the back of the net and setting up chances for others and we'll all love you forever! COYB

7

Ipswichbusiness added 12:45 - Aug 8 His goal scoring record isn't that impressive (1 in 5), but KMK must see something in him or he wouldn't have been given a new contract. I wish him all the best after what sounds like a very nasty injury.
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wezley53 added 12:59 - Aug 8 If he thinks playing against Colchester at home will be a big moment for him then god help us , whats he going to think when we play Liverpool away, he will crap himself. Never has been good enough and we should have off loaded by now.
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ArnieM added 13:04 - Aug 8 Maybe Jackson isn't really a striker, but more of a wide player. McKenna is certainly taping into his strengths rather focusing on what he “ can't do”. THATS proper msn management snd excellent coaching .
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BlueandTruesince82 added 13:06 - Aug 8 Certainly has the character bases on that doesn't he, let's hope he has a successful season, feel like if he does, we will
1

hyperbrit added 13:27 - Aug 8 ...the striker that Town MUST bring in will have to be man marked for the whole match by the opposition or they will suffer the consequences.The freedom that will give to the rotating players in Town's attack will be immediately felt.
1

YobRotcart added 14:52 - Aug 8 I'm so impressed by your attitude KJ. You're a credit to yourself and to our club. It's humbling to read your honest words after all the flak you've had to take - some of it coming even now from the usual suspects. If you carry on as you are, you'll be starting league games again and have the chance to prove the doubters wrong. I hope to see you playing for us in the Championship again, and who knows ... perhaps even higher than that. COYB

4

JewellintheTown added 14:57 - Aug 8 Statistically, 1 goal in 6 games average (0.16 goals per game average) doesn't excite me and certainly wont get us promoted, especially as many were during cup games or as an impact sub. Top players are looking at 0.5+. Messi is around 0.87 with Ronaldo not far behind. But we're league one, so we can safely ditch those kind of expectations. Not sure how many minutes KJ played but Freddie Ladapo was pushing 0.5 (1 goal /185mins) last season and he was 13th best in League one. Alfie May (Cheltenhan) was 21 goals from 3331 minutes = 1/158 minutes last season (0.57?). However, statistics don't tell the full story, so as its about the team and not individuals, if KM can get him to help others boost their goal ratio's though, he could be a very useful player this season. Hope he proves that, as he's a likeable guy and popular with fans and the club.

0

gosblue added 15:10 - Aug 8 In the second half of last season Jackson was like a new signing before his injury. He started to make the right runs into the right areas and he managed to stay onside much more often. That was probably down to hard work and good coaching. Players can improve but some on here seem to be blinkered to that. How long did it take for some people to realise that Donacien is one of the best defenders at this level but wasn't allowed to show it because PL & PC didn't have a Scooby Doo?

4

dirtydingusmagee added 16:18 - Aug 8 not convinced so far, but as they say, ''where there's life there's hope'', KM can see something in him, just hope he can bring it out. Time to produce the goods ,
1

Linkboy13 added 17:04 - Aug 8 Got cast off to the u23s by Cook didn't sulk got his head down worked hard and impressed McKenna and looked good until he got injured. Those who don't work hard and mope around the club get sent out on loan. Been down that road and wished i had worked harder. Reputations don't get you games in the first team.
1

churchmans added 18:31 - Aug 8 A lot of pathetic comments on here bigging him up into some deadly striker that we are blessed to have So let's drop some facts! 5th season playing for blues cost a million+ big wages I assume,sickness and 20 goals! He needs to start scoring and playing regularly as I'm not convinced he should be here! Please prove me wrong
4

chepstowblue added 18:40 - Aug 8 I agree with those who praise the attitude but question the ability. One and a half decent games last season and the way people were talking you'd have thought he was on his way to PSG. I also hope he proves me wrong when I say he isn't good enough. He's recently gone public in saying that Flynn Downes will be a 50m pound player in the future. With that in mind I must be about 45m, and I'm a 56yr old retired taxi driver !! Surprised he's still with us, but look forward to seeing this 'new player' I'm hearing so much about.

5

Ebantiass added 19:44 - Aug 8 Good luck jacko we all hope things work out for you now fit again, what works for you will in turn work for us and the club.
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dirtydingusmagee added 20:35 - Aug 8 Victory, he is is supposed to be a striker, at least he is named as a striker when on the bench, imo striker he aint , not saying he hasnt got some attributes , but if he is a striker we deffinately need another.
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Nomore4 added 21:32 - Aug 8 Going into his 5th season, he now needs to score just occasionally maybe…. Now one of the longest serving players, earned a huge amount of money out the club, and being a forward player scored very few goals. Got himself into the cosy club, but luckily for him McK came along. Now needs less talking and more goals. Any decent striker in L1 never stays in L1 for more than 2 seasons. Either promotion or a move to a Championship club soon happens. A big season for him ahead.

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DifferentGravy added 22:34 - Aug 8 Didnt see the FG game but his effort and commitment was there for all to see when he came on versus Bolton. However, I just dont think hes good enough. A sprinter turned footballer..... and was vocal of this opinion two years ago. A 1 in 5+ strike rate is simply not good enough for any striker at any level.
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bobble added 04:21 - Aug 9 pretty poor striker ,, hasnt done a lot but talk
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Razor added 10:18 - Aug 9 Nice talk but I remain to be convinced-----I suppose a hat trick tonight might help.
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