Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna says his players, staff and the club's army of fans will need resilience, bravery and spirit as they make the 'huge step-up' to the Premier League.

The Blues defied the odds to earn back-to-back promotions last term, ripping straight through the Championship and back into the top tier for the first time in 22 years, with the core of the squad which escaped League One.


Now, in less than three weeks, they'll be testing themselves against some of the best players and teams in the world as they kick off their Premier League campaign with a home game against Liverpool followed by a trip to four-time defending champions Manchester City.

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And the Town boss says he and his side are aware of the massive challenge ahead of them.

The Blues will host Liverpool in less than three weeksThe Blues will host Liverpool in less than three weeks (Image: Stephen Waller)
"Everyone can have their expectations, whether they’re high or low," he explained, after yesterday's friendly defeat to Fortuna Dusseldorf.

"That’s natural, that’s football. We want everyone to be optimistic going into the season, but we’re also really aware of the challenge.

“It’s a huge step up, probably the biggest step up between two divisions in world football, especially for us who climbed two divisions the season before.

READ MORE: McKenna on defeat to Fortuna

“We know it’s going to be a big challenge and a big step up. The large, large majority of our supporters do know that, but we know that we’ve built an ethos and culture of a group and of a club of resilience, of bravery, spirit and will to take on big challenges.

“We’ve built that over the last couple of years and we’re going to carry that forward this year.

"We’re going to need that from every player, every supporter and every member of staff.”