Ipswich Town have signed former loan striker George Hirst on a permanent deal from Leicester. Stuart Watson gives his thoughts.
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE
From very early on, Kieran McKenna made it clear he wanted to bring 'young, hungry, technical and athletic' players to the club. Once he identifies someone he thinks ticks all of those boxes he is prepared to wait for the opportunity to develop them.
Town finally landed Jack Taylor last month having been knocked back in the previous two windows.
A similar level of patience has had to be shown with George Hirst over the last year. Town wanted him last summer, but missed out to Championship club Blackburn. They eventually got their man in January.
“George Hirst is a really good fit for us and someone we have interest in working with in the short and long-term,” said McKenna, giving an early hint that he saw this as being more than just a four-month relationship.
Now, following some lengthy negotiations, he’s back as a permanent signing on a four-year deal.
FINDING A HOME
Having barely played for Blackburn in the first half of last season, it understandably took Hirst a few games to get fully up to speed after arriving at Ipswich on January 8.
His performances against Championship winners elect Burnley, over two FA Cup games, soon showed just why McKenna had been keen to add him to a forward unit that hadn’t exactly been struggling for goals.
The turn of pace to keep up with Kayden Jackson on the counter-attack for his equaliser at Turf Moor was impressive. He repeated the trick, this time with Wes Burns, for a vital goal at Bolton in mid-March.
“I thought his all-round game was excellent,” said McKenna, after Hirst bagged again in a 2-0 home win against Shrewsbury.
“If you look at his link play, the balls into feet, his combination play and his understanding of how to coordinate with his team-mates in the last two games compared to his first few, there's a vast, vast difference.
“There's been a lot of hard work go into that both from George and the staff.
“He's integrating more and more into our system and is showing why we think so highly of him as a young forward.”
Keeping an in-form Freddie Ladapo out the side spoke volumes about how well Hirst was playing. A cool-as-you-like rebound goal at Derby and powerful solo run and finish at Barnsley were subsequent highlights.
Speaking after Town had sealed promotion with a 6-0 win against Exeter, the front man said: “I've absolutely loved being here and playing at Portman Road. If that is to continue then great.
“This is without a doubt the most I've enjoyed my football. Let's see what happens next.”
A BARGAIN BUY
Ipswich wanted Hirst, and he was keen to come back to a place where he’d thoroughly enjoyed his football, but there was still a deal to be thrashed out.
The Blues, who have money to spend but Financial Fair Play limits to stay within, had to stand firm on their valuation.
In the end, it’s understood a £1.5m fee with the potential to rise with add-ons was agreed.
Given some of the prices being paid/discussed for strikers at the moment that looks like a snip.
Ellis Simms, two years younger than Hirst and with a touch more Championship experience, has recently gone to Coventry in a deal that could reach £8m.
Swansea have allegedly put a £20m price tag on Leicester target Joel Piroe (23 and much more proven), while Jerry Yates (two years older than Hirst at 26) is reportedly set to join Swansea from Blackpool for £2.5m.
MISLEADING STATS
The headline numbers when it comes to Hirst’s record in the Championship - zero goals from 41 appearances – really don’t tell the full story.
He made just one sub appearance in the second-tier for Sheffield Wednesday, coming on as a 17-year-old when the Owls were 2-0 down at Reading in December 2016.
Just four of his 31 league outings for Rotherham during the behind-closed-doors 2020/21 season came from the start.
Then Millers boss Paul Warne had nothing but praise for Hirst when the loan came to an end. He said: "I'd like to say on the record that George's attitude always stayed spot on. He was a really grounded kid.
“We were never in a position where we had plenty of points in the bank and I could take Smudge (Michael Smith) out of the team because Smudge was fundamental to our success.
“I feel sorry for George a little bit in that I didn't give him as much game-time as I possibly could have. I have no doubt he will go on and be an amazing centre-forward.”
Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson then cited Hirst’s lack of a proper pre-season as the reason he never quite got off the ground at Ewood Park in the first half of last season.
In total, Hirst has played just 943 minutes of Championship football in difficult circumstances. Now, at 24 and with two successful stints at League One level under his belt, there is every reason to believe he is ready to make that step up.
IN THE SWEET SPOT
Could Ipswich have recruited a striker with more second-tier pedigree? Yes. But they’d have paid a premium for that.
McKenna is a proven developer of players. Hirst, happy and hungry, is keen to learn. That’s why I think this transfer hits the sweet spot for where the club is currently at on its exciting journey.
Ipswich have lost just 14 league starts and three goals from their promotion winning season (that number could drop further if Tyreece John-Jules returns).
Chief executive Mark Ashton is right when he stresses that ‘what got us here won’t necessarily take us there’, referring to club’s ultimate aim of reaching the Premier League, but don’t underestimate the power of continuity and momentum either.
The nature of last season's promotion charge gives us all great belief that this current band of brothers will be competitive a step higher. Quite how competitive that is remains to be seen. Town can feel their way into the Championship though. The January window, remember, does provide an opportunity to power up.
SQUAD PICTURE
Just like at the back end of last season, Hirst and Ladapo will compete for the central striker position in Ipswich’s flexible 4-2-3-1 system.
Kayden Jackson, who has transitioned into more of a winger over recent months, is also an option through the middle.
Is that enough? From what I gather, it’s not impossible that the Blues will add another to the mix if they feel the right one becomes available.
The next front man through the door might be more of a forward than a striker though - someone who can play in multiple positions across the attacking unit.
Hirst’s arrival takes the first team squad up to 29 players.
Discounting new keeper Cieran Slicker and midfielder Cameron Humphreys (who do not need to be registered because of their age), McKenna still needs to cut two senior players to stay within the Championship’s 25-man squad size limit.
Obviously if he wants to sign more players – with a centre-back and versatile attacker looking likely further additions – then more will need to move on.
We know that Elkan Baggott, Panutche Camara and Nick Hayes are available for loan and that Joe Pigott is set to depart.
CURRENT TOWN SQUAD (29)
GK: Walton, Hladky, Slicker*, Hayes.
RB: Clarke, Donacien.
CB: Woolfenden, Burgess, Edmundson, Baggott.
LB: Davis, Leigh.
CM: Morsy, Taylor, Luongo, Evans, Ball, Camara, Humphreys*.
RW: Burns, Jackson.
AMC: Chaplin, Aluko.
LW: Broadhead, Edwards, Harness.
ST: Hirst, Ladapo, Pigott.
* Do not have to be registered in 25-man squad due to age.
OUT ON LOAN: Ndaba (Kilmarnock), El Mizouni (Leyton Orient), Ahadme (Cambridge Utd).
AVAILABLE FOR LOAN: Hayes, Baggott, Camara.
IN TALKS OVER EXIT: Pigott.
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