Town midfielder Jack Taylor believes the Blues’ strength in depth will play into their hands during the current congested schedule in the Championship season.

Following Saturday’s home clash with Wrexham, Town now face three away trips with evening kick-offs within a week of each other, beginning with Tuesday’s trip to Hull City.

Manager Kieran McKenna has not been afraid to make changes to his starting XI, and more rotation appears likely during a spell in which the Blues face seven league matches in just 22 days.

Azor Matusiwa has been virtually an ever-present in midfield, but there are a trio of viable options to partner the Dutchman in Taylor, Jens Cajuste and Marcelino Núñez.

In-form man Taylor has enjoyed a run in the side of late, but knows the minutes are going to be shared around by McKenna between now and the start of 2026.

“He says to the whole group that everyone in the room is going to be needed at some point,” he said. “Especially in the near future with the amount of games and the travelling. Different players are going to have to come in at different times and push the group.

“It’s not always the XI that starts the game that’s going to win you it. They obviously start off the game but it’s more important to come on and impact the game, whether that’s seeing out the game or needing a goal.

“Like Clarkey [Jack Clarke]’s doing at the minute, he’s popping up in the right areas every time. They’re the types of characters you need, it’s easy to come on and be a bit annoyed that you’re not starting rather than going in, attacking it, and taking your opportunity.

“You definitely need strength in depth. You see it in all leagues now where all the Prem teams are signing so many players. For example, Chelsea can rotate the whole team.

“You need lads to come in and, whether it’s a Tuesday night away, you need to get all three points. You need to invest in the squad, and that’s why everyone’s got to be training at it because you never know when your turn’s coming.

“I’d prefer more home games, but I suppose you’ve got to go away sometimes.”

That competition for places and the fight to maintain a starting role is exactly what drives success, and Taylor expressed his delight at his current run in the side.

He was also asked whether he might be asked to operate in a more advanced role, with Núñez recently playing a significant number of minutes as a number 10.

“To be honest, I’m happy to just play wherever is designated for me to play,” he said. “I had a spell last year where I kept coming on in the number 10 position so I’m quite used to doing that, but I'm happy to play wherever I am.

“Having competition is so healthy for the whole group and it kicks everyone on to keep performing. When you’re called upon, you need to come in and do your job as best as you can.

“I’m delighted to be playing a lot more minutes than I was previously. I’m taking my opportunity but I think the competition is probably the best we’ve had in years, especially in the midfield department with Marcelino coming in and Cameron Humphreys pushing the group in training.

“It’s really healthy and obviously I'm delighted to play my part at the minute and I’ll give my all for the club.”

Taylor joined the club from Peterborough United in the summer of 2023 off the back of the Town’s promotion to the Championship.

Since his arrival, the Republic of Ireland international has struggled to maintain a consistent run of starts and has mainly been utilised from the bench due to the form of others, notably Sam Morsy and Massimo Luongo two years ago.

Despite the challenges, the 27-year-old has continued to drive standards on and off the pitch.

He said: “Over the two years, especially in the first season, I wanted to play a lot more but we were winning every week and Mass and Morsy at the time were playing so well. I couldn’t really solidify my way into the team because they were winning and playing well every week, so that was understandable.

“The second year was the Prem, so I knew the club was trying to invest and we needed to push another level. I was always training and I always believed in myself every week, that’s why I think I was still around it and delighted that I got the contract signed a couple of months ago now.

“I’m just delighted that the mentality that I’ve got that I’ve stayed around, pushed myself and kept knocking on the door to try and get in the team.

“That’s been the culture since I’ve come to the club. If you’re not playing then you’ve got to double down and even in training you’ve got to push yourself and push others and show ‘he looks ready’.

“If I need to make a sub early on or you need someone to impact the game then I'm going to bring him on rather than someone who doesn’t train well, that’s the culture that’s built here.

“I’ve always stuck to that and try to train the best I can, especially when I haven’t been playing. You don’t know when your time is going to come, a lot can change in football in a week. I’m delighted with how I've come about it.”

Asked if he feels he is a better player now than he was when he joined, Taylor added: “Definitely, yeah. I’ve learned a lot and I think a lot comes from the manager and the culture of the whole group over the last two years.”

Following his own recent contract extension, Taylor’s teammate Leif Davis signed a new deal of his own on Friday to extend his stay at Portman Road until the summer of 2029.

“Delighted,” Taylor said of the news. “He’s a massive character and a massive player for us in how we play and what he brings to the side, he’s such a good outlet running down the left.

“I’m delighted for him to get that sorted, I know that’s been in the works for quite a while. I’m just happy for him and all the lads are buzzing.”

Photo: Action Images

Marinersnose added 10:29 - Nov 24 I actually think the large squad is having an adverse effect on team performance as KMK is trying to keep everyone happy by rotating the team every game. We need to see a team that plays in patterns and works together but atm this isn’t evident certainly in our home games. We had a weaker team when last in the Championship but as fans we all believed the win would come. The number of games won after 90 minutes was incredible. Now we look lost going into injury time and devoid of hunger and urgency. We are still in a good position and promotion is still a strong possibility but I think we need a settled starting 11 with strong finishers on the bench

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Bazza8564 added 11:34 - Nov 24 MarinersNose, yes, you make a very good point. I don't like too many changes either, especially at the back, but the forward options don't hurt as much, especially away from home when you want to keep the game tighter and then finish with the four you would start at home. If you look at the performances, Clarke as a starter works better than Philogene away, the other way round at home. Kasey started at Swansea and had a great game. Im just praying we rotate Akpom out this week, I'd rather have Nunez or Taylor in there if Szmodics isnt fit. And I also think Hirst is a better starter than Azon. What I don'twant to see is Furlong and Kipre missing out for a rest, we need stability at the back.

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Karlosfandangal added 11:45 - Nov 24 One of the problems I think is team just come for a point at Portman Road and Town don’t seem to have players who can break them down. A goal in the first half against Wrexham and they would have attack a leave spaces….again like for like subs on 60 or so mins Feel Azon should have started on and bring Hirst on for 2 up front….might confuse the back 5 of Wrexham….for them it was just a different 9 so just kept there formation and discipline

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scooby added 11:49 - Nov 24 We r doing alot of the right things at the moment. Just not being clinical enough
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Northstandveteran added 12:45 - Nov 24 @Marinersnose. Your first sentence is exactly what I've been saying before the season started. 100% in agreement.
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Saxonblue74 added 13:28 - Nov 24 Starting the same 11 for the next 7 games is mot a good idea. Perfect recipe for injuries. The season does not end in December, as long as we're in the mix to push on to the end of the season (which we are) then promotion is a distinct possibility. So what is our best starting 11 anyway? Ask 10 different people on this forum and you'd get 10 different answers. Testament to the strength of the squad that has been assembled.

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StowTractor added 13:48 - Nov 24 Excellent points Bazza, I totally agree with all of them, other than I'd prefer to keep Sindre on the right wing, surely a 19 yo can play 3 games in a week.
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Broadbent23 added 14:34 - Nov 24 Following the Wrexham game, the defence is performing better but the attacking element is still lacking an answer to the goals. The question is does KMc practice low block tactics from opposition. I wonder if there is an AI programme to show players how to improve scoring chances. With five substitutes we need a new way of surprising the opposition. Anyway there are patterns emerging to Town's tactics at home and these need to change if we are going achieve maximum points. Hopefully the next group of games will point to the future.

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Stato added 14:38 - Nov 24 Rotation is important but I sit in the group that believes McKenna is overrotating. There is not a single other top performing manager in any league in the world that is making 5 plus changes every week. Liverpool don't do it, Arsenal don't do and nor do Man City so all those who cut and paste every week "so you think you know better than McKenna" I'll come back with so you think McKenna knows better than Slot, Pep and Arteta ? What also stinks is that last season Omari was benched once from memory ? so there is no consistency from McKenna. I hope McKenna gets this right over the course of the season but for a side that started as strong favourites to win the title it cannot be claimed that the rotation policy has bought any positives so far. Personally I'd favour something resembling a preferred starting 11 with changes limited to just 2 or 3 normally but MUCH earlier substitions especially once we hold a 2 goal advantage.

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ArnieM added 15:29 - Nov 24 Not sure if we can say the defence is performing any better. It hasn't actually been tested for the last few games has it. Tues at Hull will give us a truer picture of our defensive capabilities I think. On the issue of rotations. Its not the fact that McKenna makes these rotations, but how many players he changes. 5-6 players is half the team. Its far too many EVERY game....and It will and IS affecting continuity and flow of our game. But McKenna definitely has no other way of approaching games than the way he does. Problem is every opposition manager knows in detail what, who and when mckenna will fo ....what he ALWAYS does. His managerial approach is predictable, pedestrian and frankly now, im finding it all quite boring.

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