Town boss Kieran McKenna says he’s sure Wes Burns has his full focus on the Blues’ upcoming matches, despite the announcement of the Wales World Cup squad next Wednesday.

Burns, 27, broke into the Welsh squad in the summer when he won his first three full caps. The wideman was called up to the party for the September internationals but didn’t play a minute of those games, although he felt the experience was worthwhile.

Wales boss Rob Page will name his 26-man party on Wednesday of next week.

“It will be very nice for him, every player wants to play in the World Cup and he’s had a really good 12 months or so and put himself into the picture for that,” McKenna said.

“But I’d like to think at the moment, and I’m confident at the moment that his full focus is on Ipswich Town.

“We have two games before anyone will break up for the World Cup. We have an FA Cup tie and we have a big game against Cheltenham next weekend, so I think his full focus is on that at the moment.

“And if he does get the call-up for the World Cup, of course we’ll all be delighted for him when that comes, but for now it’s all focus on Ipswich duty.”

If he is included, Burns will be the second Town player to have been named in a Wales World Cup squad, John Elsworthy having been selected in the 22 the only other time the Welsh qualified in 1958.

Sadly for the man known as Big John, he was one of four players to be left at home with their seats on the plane to Sweden instead given to wives of Welsh FA committee members.

The World Cup has led to two Town home games moving kick-off time. The Fleetwood match is now on Friday 2nd December, while Peterborough’s visit to Suffolk eight days later has switched to a 12.30pm start.

Asked whether the late moves are frustrating for a manager, McKenna said: “I think it’s not easy, but it’s a unique situation with the World Cup being in-season and a lot of different factors come into it around policing and how capable the towns are of hosting games at different times.

“I think it’s a unique situation, everyone is trying their best. Of course, it’s frustrating for people, and I’ve been and my family’s been in the situation before where you plan to go and watch a football match and fixtures get changed.

“It’s a lot more common in the Premier League, of course, and at those levels where fixtures get changed at relatively late notice, it doesn’t happen too often at League One level.

“We’ve had some experiences of it lately but I think it’s a unique season, it’s a unique challenge, everyone is trying their best to get the fixtures on in as safe a way as possible as close to the normal schedule as possible.

“I know that whether we play on Friday night or Saturday morning or Saturday afternoon or Saturday night, I know we’ll have a fantastic support and the people will be there with us and there’ll be a good atmosphere.

“We take the games as they come and we look forward to Fleetwood on the Friday night and Peterborough on the Saturday earlier kick-off.”

Regarding that support, McKenna’s name has been sung increasingly often on the terraces with a new song developing in recent weeks.

“I think there are a few names in the song, to be fair, I wouldn’t say it’s just my song,” he laughed. “There are a few names in there.

“It’s nice to hear the support, it doesn’t matter whether it’s my name being sung or Martyn Pert’s name being sung or Mark Ashton’s name being sung or the players’ names being sung, it’s just great to have the numbers of supporters that we’ve had. It’s great to have the vocal nature of the support that we’ve had.

“I hope everyone is enjoying the season, it’s a journey and we all know what we want the ultimate end goal to be but we have to enjoy it week by week and enjoy the process and enjoy the fixtures.

“In the course of the last week, having such a big game against Derby on TV and a long away trip to Port Vale with a kid who has been here since he was seven years old [Cameron Humphreys] celebrating a match-winning performance in front of the supporters at the end.

“And then a few days later and going to the Valley and playing in a big stadium against a big club and going there and scoring four goals and dominating the game, and having those joyous moments and ultimately having a disappointment at the end.

“There’s been so much in the season already and hopefully lots more to come. Lots more good moments than bad but I think we’re really grateful for the support and we hope to continue to give them lots of things to celebrate to the end of the year.”

Photo: Action Images

Suffolkboy added 16:36 - Nov 4 There'll still be others who remember big John Elsworthy ; IF my memory is correct he was pretty well a conventional left half . I met his son , the Professional at Dereham GC ( ?) when I played with my very young son : he was fascinated to know I'd actually seen his Dad play and obviously extremely proud – sport and principle were in the blood ! COYB
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Crinkle59 added 18:14 - Nov 4 Big john was man of the match when we played at Man U inthe cup a week before the Munich air crash . Showed his class that day! Was really unlucky not to have had many caps ,
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PhilTWTD added 18:17 - Nov 4 Crinkle59 Too young to have seen him play, but had the privilege of meeting him a few times. I don't think he won any caps. Scandal that his World Cup chance was taken away from him so some committee man could take his wife along!
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