Ipswich Town: Kieran McKenna on two-week break and promotion run-in

The Blues know that they’ll be promoted to the Premier League if they take maximum points in the last three games of the season, albeit that they currently sit third in the table behind Leicester City and Leeds United.

That’s because Coventry City, who they were due to face last weekend, were in FA Cup action against Manchester United, meaning that the game was postponed.

It does mean that the Town squad have had a much-needed rest, which could be a huge advantage between now and the end of the season.

“I think we’re in a good position,” McKenna said. “The players have had the time to get some good recovery in after a busy period, some really good training.

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“I think we’re going into the game with a lot of excitement now. The work here has been really good, the players are relaxed but very focused.

“Everyone’s looking forward to the week ahead, but particularly starting with Hull on Saturday night.”

There’s no denying that the league has been up for a mouth-watering conclusion, with Leicester closing in on a return to the Premier League, leaving Leeds and Ipswich to slog it out for the other place.

The Blues are looking to secure their first win in three games (Image: Ross Halls)

The fact that one of the two teams will miss out on automatic promotion with a remarkable points tally shows just how strong the league is, and McKenna is delighted that his side have been able to play a part in such a dramatic battle.

“It’s been such a competitive division this year, at both ends of the table, to be fair, and in and around the play-off spots, which Hull will be fighting for on Saturday night,” he explained.

“There’s been so much on every game and it’s been fantastic to be involved in that, especially in the things we’re challenging for.

“It sets it up really well going into the last week. We know that we’re going to have to perform well, we know that we’re going to have to pick up really good results, but we believe that we’re capable of doing that against anyone in this league.

“We know it’s going to be difficult, but we have big confidence in ourselves, and we’re going to try and show that on Saturday night.”

One thing that Town have done to reach this point in the promotion race is take each game as it comes, even when they’re tantalisingly close to their goal as they are now.

Upcoming opponents Hull City still have eyes on a top-six finish (Image: PA)

With a three-game week to end the campaign, there’s a clear temptation to move away from that, but McKenna clearly has other ideas.

“It’s probably even more important this week, to be honest, just to focus on the game ahead,” he argued.

“Apart from anything else, we know the situation in the table, we know we’re going to have to pick up an awful lot of points, so we can’t look at it as a three-game block because, if we don’t get points in the first two, maybe it’s not a three-game block.

“Full focus is on Hull, doing everything we can to try and get the points. Full focus will be on Coventry, and we fully expect that, if we get the points in those two games, we’re going to have to go to the last game and get the points there as well.

“It’s very much full focus on the next game. Hopefully, if each one goes well, we can take the challenge on the next one.”