Town boss Kieran McKenna says there will be a lot of late fitness calls ahead of Saturday’s game at Everton with the squad still hit by injury as well as suspension.

Leif Davis and Ben Johnson are unavailable due to their red cards, while Wes Burns (ACL), Chieo Ogbene (achilles), Jaden Philogene (MCL) and Aro Muric (shoulder) are all out for the season.

Conor Townsend (hamstring), Axel Tuanzebe (hamstring), Nathan Broadhead (thigh), Sammie Szmodics (ankle) and Kalvin Phillips (achilles) also all missed last week’s match at Newcastle, while Omari Hutchinson (hamstring) and Jens Cajuste (managing ongoing issue) were on the bench but would only have been used in desperation.

“To be honest, I'm not going to go through so many individually again, but last week we said we were in a really difficult spot and it's not very dissimilar,” McKenna said.
 
“There are going to be quite a lot of late calls, genuinely, because we've got quite a few players who are going to be close for this week, if not this week then a really good chance for next week.
 
“I think certainly by two games’ time we'll be much closer to where we'd want to be. This one's going to be really tight. We've got quite a few players who are close and we're going to make a late judgement call on them all.”

McKenna admits the lack of players is impacting how he goes into games rather than any wider aims: “At the moment, the approach is dictated by availability.
 
Last week, this week, we've had 13, 14 senior players available in training. So, approach is always dictated a little bit by availability.
 
“I think our mindset has been to get as many points to the end of season. I still think it has to be that. Try and pick up as many points as we can. Try and perform as well as we can.
 
“The option to look at one or two different relationships or partnerships or different positional things on the pitch, it would be nice to be at that point, but to be at that point we need to be closer to availability, to be honest, and having players back and ready. 
 
“Then we can maybe look at one or two pairings or relationships or little tweaks that we'd like to have a look at in the last few games. To be honest, we're not there at the moment.

“Our position at the moment is find a way to go to Goodison and compete. We're coming off three really, really difficult games.
 
“We've got to find a way to go there and get a side and a squad together to go there and compete tomorrow.

“The overriding goal still has to be in terms of the games to pick up points and perform as well as we can.”

Photo: TWTD

Leejames99 added 16:11 - May 1 This is my point, what's he waffling on about new relationships, bit late now and we don't know who is going to be in squad yet. Why are Ipswich getting so many injuries, nearly half a squad? I think this is largely down to him tinkering each week, more players playing more players injured, thats why a consistent starting 11 is crucial, so when you get an injury someone comes in, just because you get 5 subs doesn't mean you need to use them all. We have conceeded so many late goals when half team changed. If players cannot last a full 90 mins then something is wrong. Trying to please too many players, if he bought players on to change tactic fine but he doesn't, how is Taylor for Cajuste or Hirst for Delap for 10 mins going to change a gam with same formation? Does he know if we lose tomorrow and Leicester beat Saints they go level on points and then play us at home, win that they are 3 ahead. Imagine Man City did get relegated (still possible) and Leicester stay up. I said it all along that Mckenna should of been replaced before Wolves game during the break, but wasn't and couldn't rally the team to win at home and go just 3 points behind but he still has his contract and big salary but is surely in last chance saloon next season, I think he will know that and if a London club comes in will walk, time will tell. His team tomorrow surely picks itself Palmer O'Shea Woolfenden Burgess Greaves Morsy Taylor Encsio R J Clarke L Hirst Delap Go 2 up top in 4-4-2 no reason to not try it surely

-12

flykickingbybgunn added 16:18 - May 1 Not a time to risk agravating injuries. If we cant finish 17th then it really does not matter. Both Saints and Leicester are both worse than us anyway. Chill. Go with the flow. We wont be back in the EPL for at least another 15 months.
2

blues1 added 16:33 - May 1 Leejames99. Yet again you come on spouting absolute bs. Mckenna,is,talking about trying different partnerships between now and the end of age season bcse now we're officially down, thats the time to try a few new things with next season in mind. Anyone with a brain would know that. As for injuries. We are far from the only club whove had loads of injuries this season. My god, you think him tinkering as you put it, is causing injuries? What planet are you on? Overplaying players is more likely to cause injuries than changing the team around. Why do you think the vast majority of managers do it. Just sod off with ur constant vendetta against Mckenna. Ur making urself look stupid. Even the team you've said should play Saturday. Really? The biggest issue we've had really, all season, has been our midfield not being strong enough to deal with the oppositions midfield. Yet you want to weaken it by taking a man out of there to play 2 up front. Yer, thst makes sense. NOT.

3

Leejames99 added 17:13 - May 1 @Blues1 Your boring me, you seem to think your way is the right way and your the forum leader. Who else can play in midfield only got Luongo, as if I would start Morst and Taylor if all fit. And who is he go to test a relationship with who, surely he should try 2 up top. You are just a rude person, and your bullying and aggression won't work. That's my opinion and when Mckenna and the players that done so well in lower leagues are gone the club will still be hete and so will i because I support Ipswich Town Football Club not the Keiron Mckenna fanclub.

-3

Leejames99 added 17:17 - May 1 @blues1 A 4-4-2 does not take a mid out. Mckenna plays 4-2-3-1 And you claim to know everything about football. How clever on sign up, username er Blue1 well done thats a colour and a number good boy
-3

blues1 added 20:45 - May 1 Leejames99. No, I dont pretend to know everything about football but I hsve been involved with local football for over 40 years so I know a bit. I certainly know that if you take one of ur 3 in front of the 2 holders out to go 4-4-2, that u are leaving ur midfield a player down. So having a flat 4 in midfield makes it far more difficult to press the opposition defence without leaving urself totally exposed. And indeed more often than not, outnumbered in midfield. Sorry if u think I'm rude but ur constant negativity is pathetic and uncalled for. And frankly, I, like most others on here, are fed up with you coming on saying the same thing every post you put on here. As I've said to u on more thsn 1 occasion, you were one of the most fair and sensible posters on here until the last few months. Why uve decided to suddenly change that I don't know. U say that I'm rude then find it necessary to be sarcastic about the name I use on here. So what makes urs any better?

0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls