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Hello, friends!
Stuart Watson here, wishing you a happy Friday.
Finally, after a two-week break, we have some Premier League football to get our teeth into again.
Seeing so many Town players away representing their nations was a nice reminder of how far the club has come, but international action really doesn't scratch the football itch, does it?
Before we get into that, first let me round up some of this week's ITFC news in case you missed it.
On Monday, the Blues announced that Christian Walton and Wes Burns had both signed new two-year deals with the club. It's great to see two players who have been part of this incredible journey over the last two years extending their stay. As Kieran McKenna has referenced, keeping some continuity is vital to this next phase of evolution.
On Tuesday, there was the very sad news that Town legend George Burley has been undergoing treatment for cancer. I'm sure you'll join me in wishing him all the best 💙.
Want to know a bit more about some of the Blues' more recent recruits? Alex Jones took a deep dive into the careers of Jack Clarke and Dara O'Shea. There's a piece on Chiedozie Ogbene coming next week too, so look out for that. Meanwhile, I took the opportunity to analyse Town's 27-man squad now that the transfer window has shut.
A couple of recently-released Town players, Freddie Ladapo and Dom Ball, have got themselves new clubs in League One, while McKenna says the door is not fully shut on George Edmundson and Marcus Harness following their loan exits.
In total, Town had 10 players away on international duty. That left McKenna with limited numbers to work with at Playford Road but, as ever, he chose to focus on the positives. There's a handy round-up of how all the players gone out with their respective nations here.
Keeper Aro Muric allegedly 'broke team regulations' with Kosovo, but refuted reports it was for partying too late and said the punishment was 'unfair'. McKenna is standing by his man.
Omari Hutchinson returned home for England Under-21 duty for 'medical assessment'. McKenna later revealed that was for a tight hamstring, but that the talented attacker is okay now. Phew.
There was further positive news from the Blues boss' pre-match press conference yesterday as he revealed that Wes Burns, George Hirst, Nathan Broadhead and Harry Clarke are all back in training. Burns and Hirst could even be involved at The Amex tomorrow.
So, Brighton & Hove Albion v Ipswich Town. It feels like a lifetime ago that these two sides last met on the South Coast in February 2017. The Seagulls soared from there, while Ipswich went through a horrible period of drawn out decline. Both are in the top-flight now though and tomorrow will be another major acid test for McKenna's men. Can they compete, on the road, against a team that reached the last 16 of the Europa League last season? Let's see.
McKenna, of course, was strongly linked to the Brighton job back in May. He says 'it wouldn't have felt right' had he not stayed in Suffolk, but did acknowledge that Brighton are a very well run club that the Blues can take a lot of inspiration from.
This is a clash between the two youngest coaches in the division and the two clubs who have had the biggest net spend this summer. I've got a feeling it's going to be an open, entertaining game.
As ever, we'll be bringing you all the action and reaction at the EADT and Ipswich Star.
Have a great weekend, whatever you're doing!
COYB!! 💙
Stuart Watson
Chief Football Writer
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Fixtures:
Saturday, September 14th: Brighton (A) - Premier League, 3pm
Saturday, September 21st: Southampton (A) - Premier League, 3pm
Sunday, September 29th: Aston Villa (H) - Premier League, 2pm
View all fixtures
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