Conor Chaplin believes Kalvin Phillips can help to fill the big void left by suspended skipper Sam Morsy ahead of Ipswich Town travelling to Arsenal on Friday (8.15pm, Amazon Prime).

The 33-year-old had successfully avoided a fifth yellow card for nine straight matches before finally triggering a one-game suspension with his caution in the second half of Saturday’s 4-0 home defeat to Newcastle United, having put in a from-behind challenge on Bruno Guimaraes.

It will be only the second Premier League game Morsy will have missed, having been ruled out of the 4-3 defeat at Brentford due to a hamstring issue.

And Chaplin, who is likely to carry the captain’s armband in his absence, admits it will be keenly felt as well as backing out-of-favour England international Phillips to grasp his chance, if it comes his way.

“Skip’s massively important for us. In the way that he plays, his desire and the competitive nature that he’s got, and what he brings to the team,” he said.

“He’s obviously going to be a huge miss, but we know every single season there’s going to be times where lads get injured or lads are suspended.”

Put to him that someone like Manchester City loanee Phillips could come back in and show his qualities to help fill the void, he replied: “Exactly that.”

The player who won the fan-voted 2020/21 BT England Men’s Player of The Year award in a campaign which culminated in The Three Lions reaching the delayed UEFA 2020 Euros final on home soil, made his return off the bench in the Newcastle game, replacing Swedish international Jens Cajuste.

Phillips had not featured following an ankle injury and subsequent search for fitness since the 1-1 home draw with Leicester City in which he earned a one-match suspension for a red card seven games ago.

But manager Kieran McKenna confirmed in his post-match Newcastle press conference that the 29-year-old, who has eight appearances including seven starts in the Premier League this season, is back up to full speed ahead of the trip to north London later this week.

However, he did not rule out the more attack-minded Jack Taylor - who memorably scored the last-gasp winner at Wolves - or even Massimo Luongo from being in contention to play against Mikel Arteta’s side.

“He’s had a better week this week,” he said of Phillips. “It’s the first week this week since he had his injury when he’s been able to train uninterrupted all week, so that was a positive and good for him to get 30 minutes.

“He and Jack Taylor are both ready and available, Massimo’s had some illness, so we’ll have to check on him over the next couple of days. We’re missing important players at the moment and that’s challenge for our squad.”

One big positive is the return of striker Liam Delap who will provide a physical presence up front that was missing during Saturday’s defeat, despite Ali Al-Hamadi’s introduction off the bench at half-time for Omari Hutchinson having a positive impact in that regard.

Town go into the game against Arsenal second bottom in the Premier League table, only via goal difference from Wolves, but crucially still just two points from safety after Leicester City lost 3-0 to the Old Gold, who were playing for the first time under new head coach Vitor Pereira,

Looking ahead to facing the third-placed Gunners, Chaplin feels the Blues’ game-management needs to be much better, dismissing the idea that perhaps setting up to be more hard-to-beat away from home could be something that suits them in the wake of a big home defeat.

“No. I think we know we’re going to have to show those qualities at home as well,” he said.

“I think we’re a humble enough group to know and understand that at times, regardless of whether we’re at home or away, we’re going to have to grind through games or grind through moments in certain points of the game. I think that’s normal. I think it’s expected.

“So, yes, we need to be better at game management. We’re a very, very humble group, and I feel like at times [on Saturday] we weren’t at the levels where we should have been.

“But the running back, the commitment to stay connected to each other, I think that was at the level at certain instances. And, yes, that needs to be fixed.”

He added: “We knew there was going to be good days and bad days [in the Premier League]. And we had a good day last week [at Wolves]. It’s a very bad day today. So, it’s not about getting too low on these days.

“It’s about taking the learning, sticking together as a group and also believing in what we can do next as well.”

Town are set to be big underdogs in both of their next two festive fixtures, with second-placed Chelsea visiting Portman Road on Monday (December 30th, 7.45pm).

But asked if that would suit them, Chaplin felt it would be nothing they have not been used to already.

“We’ll see,” he said. “I think we have been [big underdogs] probably every game this season, and rightly so as well. So, yes, it’s not new territory to us and we know exactly what that entails.”

Photo: Alfie Cosgrove/News Images/Sipa USA

ThaiBlue added 09:59 - Dec 24 If he can't put him in goal
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victorysquad added 10:14 - Dec 24 We are going to take all three points.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 10:28 - Dec 24 But maybe not in this match, victorysquad??? -:)
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Gforce added 10:52 - Dec 24 To stay up we are going to need an absolute minimum five home wins,it's possible, but very unlikely I'm afraid.
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poet added 10:55 - Dec 24 What about playing Phillips and Taylor?
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blueboy1981 added 11:02 - Dec 24 A Difficult score to predict this one - could be absolutely anything - including double figures against.
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cookra added 11:11 - Dec 24 @blueboy - tis the season to be jolly
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Suffolkboy added 11:13 - Dec 24 Let’s be positive ! We all hope KP will resurrect his best levels and thrive here at ITFC : the talent and stamina are not in doubt ,but - after a very unfortunate Red - we do need to seee him flourish ! With LD available , and evidence Taylor is maturing very well ,McKenna should have a pretty representative squad to select from . AT and GH are recognised talent not fit ,but that is the expected nature of PL pressures . It’s perfectly clear our team have the belief ,desire and commitment ,but inevitable that on occasion they don’t all come together ; and experienced opposition do each week present predictable challenge . Let’s be delighted and have pride in how ITFC constantly set out their stall ! COYB

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Len_Brennan added 11:36 - Dec 24 This game is going to be a real challenge; Arsenal are capable of putting 4+ goals past any team in the PL, on any given week, & we really don't want that straight after losing 0-4 v Newcastle. I think we have to set up more defensively from the start; personally I would play Phillips, Cajuste & Taylor in midfield, with Taylor pushing forward into the #10 spot when circumstances permit. With Rice, Partey or Merino, & Odegaard dropping deep, we could get badly outrun with just 2 in there, both of whom are still lacking in match fitness. I'd have Hutchinson playing the right sided/#10 role & Szmodics on the left of it, with Delap up front. They'll all have to work their socks off tracking back. Otherwise, we could look at playing 3 at the back, with O'Shea & Greaves either side of the beast that is Burgess. Davis is likely to be targetted in behind again, even without Saka, so Greaves would be a great option aa LCB. Similarly Clarke or Johnson would enjoy the comfort of O'Shea playing a bit wider than normal. I know KMcK likes to stick to his guns, but I'd really fear for us heading into another important transfer window if we take another heavy beating immediately after the Newcastle result & with Chelsea up next.

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dirtydingusmagee added 12:14 - Dec 24 Worrying month ahead , at the end of season i think bottom 6 clubs will all be close and relgations settled last day ,goal difference is going to be very important.
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Leejames99 added 12:19 - Dec 24 So Chaplin plays by default because he vice captain, that's not great if so, this is a chance to leave the league 1/Championship players out and play our new signings and those capable at this level. We have to go into this game with no illusions that Arsenal are on fire right now and we are huge underdogs but we were at Spurs, it gives us the freedom to play our game without pressure actually If we do lose I don't think changes much down bottom nor does the next fixtures I feel we may gey a point at Arsenal something tells me but we need experience, guile and attacking pace My team would be Muric (Gonna be so many SOT and he is our best keeper for that. Muric Johnson O'Shea Burgess ( Captain) Davis Phillips - staying back Cover Cajuste - Moving forward Hutchinson Right Jack Clarke on left so Davis can stay furtherback and like for like Arsenal with skill and pace. Szmodicks number 10 role 90 mins Delap - full 90 mins Subs Taylor for Cajuste 70 mins Chaplin for Clarke 60 mins and Szmodicks goes to left side Broadhead for Hutchinson 80 mins Chaplin for Szmodicks and Townsend for Phillips with Townsend to left revert to back three push Davis forward. This gives us defensive guile, combat midfield and pace on both sides with goal scoring options either side. Not Used Burns Clarke Al Hamadi Slicker Etc Time to play our best team now and I think that's it, no more sentiment for the players who brilliantly got us to Premiership but unfortunately are just not good enough Please no moaning if we lose on Boxing Day it's not helpful and lay off Muric for a bit, its a team game, to easy to blame keeper, he has made errors but they all have! I think that team is really good, we don't need bring on subs as we have been that's when we lose, evertime! Bourmouth, Leicester, Brentford, Everton etc Delap can play 90 mins if doesn't get injured and if he has to come up I'd leave Szmodicks on left with Chaplin in 10 and put Broadhead up top with 75 to go. Have a merry Christmas. Come on you Blues!

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Marinersnose added 12:26 - Dec 24 Phillips is an upgrade on Morsy imo however Morsy has really taken to the PL and has been outstanding. Without involving any sentiment Phillips and Cajuste would be an excellent pairing with Taylor off the bench late on. Phillips has to start games if he’s fit as he’s a big upgrade.
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Bluesince92 added 12:33 - Dec 24 Let's just go and get Rashford in on loan
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TimmyH added 12:38 - Dec 24 I'm not sure anyone will fill that void when we play Arsenal...okay they are without Saka but after Saturday's show we're going to have to be far more savvy and not give up acres of space down the sides of our defence which I'm sure now will not happen being away...4-5-1 maybe?
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ArnieM added 14:20 - Dec 24 I'd humbly suggest an in form Phillips is actually stronger than Morsey.
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timbousa added 14:50 - Dec 24 Reasons to be Cheerful... - we are playing Arsenal and Chelsea over the holiday. In 2022 it was Oxford United and Portsmouth, having just lost to Wycombe. - Everton have just mirrored Ipswich's next two matches and got a couple of 0-0's. Both were truly awful to watch, but that's two points from nothing. Not sure if Ipswich are capable of digging in and hanging on like that though, but matching those results could be huge. - Ipswich tend to suffer from teams that go hell for leather in the first five minutes. And at the end of each half. And injury time. Arsenal are sometimes more ponderous from the start. Saka being out will certainly make Leif Davis sleep better this week at least. - Internet conspiracy theory which could be nonsense: Man City's form drop comes from the players hearing early that automatic relegation is on the way. That means, Town just need to be better than Leicester and Southampton this season. Woo hoo!

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SickParrot added 15:47 - Dec 24 Our game plan should be to avoid a big defeat by denying Arsenal space in our half with a rigid defensive 442 or 4411 formation. Hopefully we can frustrate them and hope to nick a set piece goal or a solo effort from Delap. Walton Johnson/Clarke OShea Burgess Townsend Burns Cajuste Phillips Davis Szmodics Delap.
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Linkboy13 added 15:47 - Dec 24 Reputations mean nothing time Phillips started doing it on the pitch. Phillips hasn't shown any form for nearly two years now so i wouldn't hold your breath. Why some people are knocking Morsy i just don't know he's one of the few players with the technical ability to compete in the premier league.
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Bazza8564 added 17:36 - Dec 24 We will all have our own take on the side for Friday so Im gonna have a go too. Sam has played some of his best ever football lately and we will miss him, but equally games are coming thick and fast and we ARE beginning to see him tire. It's an important game to try without him so these are my thoughts. Ive left Muric in because I dint think KM will be brave enough to give Slicks a go yet and I just don't think he has the faith in CW Im leaving Cam B out because Greaves was growing into our best player before his injury and I don't want to play 3 CB, not yet, by i do think Greaves CB with Oshea and Burgess either side might yet be an option. Jack Taylor gets the nod over Chappers because we need steel in MF and Arteta has a habit of just anchoring Parthey in there so winning the MF could be key Muric Johnson O'Shea Greaves and Davis Phillips, Canuste and Taylor Hutchinson, Szmodics Delap My second option would be to put Cam into the Back 3 and leave Jack T on the bench Happy Xmas, wine kicking in already !

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Dissboyitfc added 17:38 - Dec 24 nobody is knocking Sam but Phillips is quality on his day!
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Dissboyitfc added 17:38 - Dec 24 nobody is knocking Sam but Phillips is quality on his day!
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chepstowblue added 16:14 - Dec 25 Does it have to be Phillips ?! Personally I'd much prefer Taylor. Regardless of who starts, there are going to be some very tired legs come 10pm.
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