Town boss Kieran McKenna says Nathan Broadhead will be able to play some minutes at Southampton on Saturday if required, while Harry Clarke could be involved in an emergency with everyone else also having trained this week.

Wales international Broadhead is yet to be involved this season having suffered a hamstring injury early in pre-season, while right-back Clarke underwent double achilles surgery following the end of 2023/24.

“Pretty much everyone’s been involved with training in some part this week,” McKenna said.

“We’ve got a few players managing different knocks and different issues but everyone’s played some part this week.

“Some are a little bit further behind who have missed pre-season, but the group’s looking really healthy.”

Regarding Broadhead and Clarke specifically, he added: “Both have trained this week. Nathan’s a little bit further along than Harry. I think from a physical point of view, he would be able to play some minutes this weekend, which is a big positive to have those options.

“Harry’s still a little bit further behind but he’s trained in the majority of the sessions this week, so if we were in big, big need he probably could be able to get on the pitch for some minutes this weekend.

“But we’re pretty strong in that position, so it gives us good depth now and we know we’re in a period where there’s not that many games at the moment, so it’s a period for us to train and develop the squad and go at one league game a week 100 per cent.

“But there’s going to come times over the course of the season where the schedule gets busier or we’re shorter on numbers now and we’re going to need everyone to make contributions and it’s great to have those options.”

McKenna says released defender Janoi Donacien remains at the club and is currently undergoing treatment for a minor knock picked up while away with St Lucia.

“JD is just back from international duty and he’s got a small ankle injury,” he said. “He’s fine, but he’s still with us receiving some treatment and looking at the right next steps now.

“As I’ve said many times, a top, top player, outstanding person and I think there’s a big demand for his services, so we’ll try and help him make the right decision for the next step of his career.”

Photo: Matchday Images

arc added 15:01 - Sep 19 I somehow missed Donacien's release and have been wondering what happened to him. Good luck Janoi—you've been a class act for us. But with him gone, that's the end of the disastrous Hurst summer of 2018. But you've all probably marked this milestone already :-)
2

MaySixth added 15:06 - Sep 19 Finally, everyone fit.
0

Monkey_Blue added 15:10 - Sep 19 Broadhead has some serious competition now for that left hand side role. He can’t afford when he gets a chance to dip in and out of games as he’s had a habit of doing. Don’t get me wrong, I like him and when he’s on it he’s a real asset but he does blow hot and cold within a game. You’d think SS and Clarke would be ahead of him at the moment if all were 100% fit. Tuanzebe is now pretty much in possession for RB so Harry is probably 3rd choice behind him and Johnson. How far have we come When two £1m+ players are potentially 3rd choice, but I guess that’s what happens when you get back to back promotions.

10

algarvefan added 15:12 - Sep 19 Donacien has been a great servant for the club and am sad to see such a character move on, I wish him well with the rest of his career, he was such a star with a great partnership with Wes Burns in League 1. Someone is surely interested?
3

Len_Brennan added 15:27 - Sep 19 An embarrassment of riches.
0

bluelad7 added 15:37 - Sep 19 Algarvefan. Ignore my negative. My screen moved just as I went to give you a positive sometimes I hate this site with all the adverts. If there’s a way I can get rid of that negative let me know.
0

NthQldITFC added 15:51 - Sep 19 I'd love to see that JB/Burns handshake and bow routine just one more time!
1

Help added 15:51 - Sep 19 I would put Clark ahead of johnson
0

PutneyBlue added 16:04 - Sep 19 Bluelad, speak to Gav as there is a way for a small fee.
0

VanDusen added 16:11 - Sep 19 Such a shame to lose JD. Amazing guy - top servant and I'm not sure I could name another player who has improved so much for Town since his debut, with major credit to Cook and McKenna for bringing out the best in a brilliant footballer - if he were four or five years younger I can't imagine we'd have bothered going out to get Johnson. Someone's going to get an amazing bargain on a free (rather as we have for his replacement in Tuanzebe).

1

Linkboy13 added 16:14 - Sep 19 Broadhead was in and out of the team last season and looks very lightweight at times but can create chances out of nowhere so is a very useful player to have on the bench. Johnson is yet to convince me that he is better than Clarke but has Premier league experience which puts him slightly ahead of Clarke who let's not forget struggled with an injury last season. Tuanzebe has obviously worked hard on his fitness and looks a yard quicker playing in a league that's much faster.

0

Suffolkboy added 16:18 - Sep 19 How good to see ITFC solid and caring in helping JD .both with finding his fitness and in finding a new home . He’s been shining example for us all ; ands character too ! COYB
3

BlueRuin69 added 17:57 - Sep 19 Clark ahead of Johnson for me and Broadhead is pure class
0

BuckieBlue added 21:27 - Sep 19 I think NB scored some 'clever' goals for us last season. Of course with his injured start we've yet to see if he can make the step up but hopefully he can as I believe he can be a real asset.
0

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls