Ipswich Town’s Premier League preparations continue with a home friendly against Fortuna Dusseldorf on Saturday. Stuart Watson looks at the current battles for starting spots.
WOOLFENDEN v TUANZEBE v EDMUNDSON
I see a lot of people far too readily saying that Luke Woolfenden won’t/shouldn’t be a Premier League starter.
That's not based on 'one of our own' sentiment, either. The fact of the matter is that no-one has started more league games under Kieran McKenna than him (104/115) - and that hasn’t happened by fluke.
For me, it’s sometimes underestimated how crucial his ice cool nature is to Town’s build from the back approach is, as well as how much he’s improved physically over recent months too.
Axel Tuanzebe is a more experienced/athletic option for that right-sided centre-back role. He’s made 16 starts and 12 substitute appearances in the Premier League for Manchester United and Aston Villa.
The 26-year-old, who finished last season in the right-back slot for Town, hasn’t had a run of games in his favoured centre-back position regularly since the back end of 2021 though. He also missed the recent week-long training camp in Austria for personal reasons.
There’s an outside chance that George Edmundson is seen as better equipped for the speed/physicality of Premier League strikers. McKenna did call upon him to deal with powerful runners (most notably Liam Delap) last season.
Verdict: As it stands, I think Woolfenden is in the box seat for this position. It’s important that some continuity is maintained.
BURGESS v GREAVES
Several players have come on leaps and bounds under McKenna’s management, but Cameron Burgess’ improvement arch must be the steepest.
If it wasn’t for the nasty facial injury he suffered in autumn 2022 and going away to the Asian Cup with Australia back in January, the 28-year-old would be right up there with Woolfenden in terms of starts under McKenna.
Personally, I’d put him in my top five performers of the Championship promotion season. He got his head on everything, sprayed some nice forward passes and was ultra consistent.
Town have obviously gone out and signed a centre-back in a similar mould this summer in Jacob Greaves. The 23-year-old is also tall, left-footed and loves a defensive duel. The stats suggest he may be an upgrade on Burgess when it comes to contributing to the attack though.
Verdict: Burgess and Woolfenden looked really solid in last weekend’s 1-0 friendly win against Shakhtar Donetsk, so there will be a temptation to stick with a tried and trusted partnership. But do you spend £15m on a centre-half and not put him straight in? I doubt it. This is not really a rotation area of the team we’re talking about. My money’s on trying to bed in Greaves from the get-go.
LUONGO v TAYLOR
Skipper Sam Morsy, the beating heart of the side, is a nailed on starter. But who will partner him in central midfield?
Massimo Luongo has started 50 games since joining in January 2023. Ipswich’s record in those games reads: W33 D12 L5. That’s a remarkable 66% win ratio.
Experienced, level-headed and ultra-combative, Morsy and Luongo both share a lot of similar traits. There’s a very strong argument that keeping such a solid base is prudent given the step up to face some world class playmakers.
Might McKenna feel his engine room needs a bit more variety though? Jack Taylor is an attack-minded midfielder with a penchant for a spectacular long-range goal. It’s not impossible that his technical qualities are seen as better suited for Premier League football.
Verdict: I actually think Town will recruit a new starter for that left-sided No.8 role. If the season kicked off now though, I’m confident Luongo would keep his shirt.
BURNS v DELAP
Why haven’t I included Omari Hutchinson in a battle for the right-wing or No.10 roles? Because, with Nathan Broadhead injured, I think he’s going to be needed on the left. That could obviously change if the Blues sign someone for either/both of those positions.
At this given moment in time, however, it looks like Wes Burns and Liam Delap are vying for the high and right winger role.
The value of Burns’ acceleration, work-rate and direct-running has perhaps been underestimated at times. The Welshman was certainly missed when injured for a spell towards the back end of last season.
Delap has arrived in a £15m deal from Manchester City. The 21-year-old is all about power and pace. Might McKenna choose to utilise that on the right, a role he sometimes played at recent loan club Hull City? It’s certainly an option.
Verdict: I think Delap has been signed more with the striker’s role in mind. Burns has earnt his shot at starting in the Premier League.
HIRST v DELAP
Who will McKenna go with to lead the line?
Will it be George Hirst, the man who has helped fire Town to back-to-back promotions? His value to the team has been much more than the baseline figure of 14 goals in 52 appearances.
Tall and mobile, the 25-year-old's well-rounded game has been key to the team functioning. Kieffer Moore provided an adequate sticking plaster during the second half of last season, but Hirst’s qualities were missed when he was sidelined.
New signing Delap is similar in that he’s tall, quick and strong. He’s a better dribbler and presser, but not as effective when it comes to link play and aerial duels.
Verdict: Ultimately, I think there’s a good chance that Delap makes the No.9 position his own once he’s fully up to speed with McKenna-ball. To begin with, however, I can see Hirst being the tried and trusted starter with Delap to make an impact off the bench.
TEAM AS IT STANDS
Yes, there are clearly more signings to come. Yes, further injuries could strike in pre-season.
Just for a bit of fun, however, here’s my stab at what Ipswich Town’s starting XI and bench would be if the action got underway tomorrow.
Town XI: Muric; Johnson, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Luongo; Burns, Chaplin, Hutchinson; Hirst.
Subs: Walton, Tuanzebe, Burgess, Edmundson, Taylor, Humphreys, Harness, Delap, Al-Hamadi.
Only Broadhead (set to see a specialist for unspecific injury) and Harry Clarke (recovering from Achilles surgery) are not included in the above 20-man squad.
In summary, there's chemistry to build in a new-look backline and depth/competition still to be added in midfield/attack.
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