Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna credits his 'leadership group' for keeping a large squad bonded tight.

Harry Clarke, Massimo Luongo, Nathan Broadhead and George Hirst were all signed in January, while Dominic Ball and Panutche Camara have recently returned from long-term injuries.

It means that even with Lee Evans, George Edmundson and Tyreece John-Jules all injured, and seven senior players out on loan, McKenna still has 22 first-team outfielders to work with on a daily basis.

Experienced duo Richard Keogh, 36, and Sone Aluko, 34, have not been making matchday squads over recent weeks, but the Blues boss says they have played their part in a six-game win streak. 

"With new players signed and the players returning from injury, we’ve now got a big squad," admitted the Blues boss.

"With that, it’s not easy to have a good team morale, a good squad ethic and to have everyone pulling in the same direction.

"We've managed that though and I think that’s testament to the characters that are in the building.

“It's testament to the leadership of (captain) Sam Morsy, but also Richard Keogh and Sone Aluko. They are fantastic people and have played a massive role off the pitch.

“There are others in that leadership group. 

"The club has worked hard to make sure that we are bringing in the right type of characters and retaining the right type of characters who contribute to the culture here.

“You can’t take things like spirit, morale and mentality for granted. You have to keep working on it, just as you do with the things on the pitch."

Town, who have nine games to go, aren't in action this weekend as their scheduled game at Barnsley was postponed due to international call-ups. 

Their promotion push continues at Derby County on Saturday, April 1.