Ipswich Town: Kieran McKenna on potential departures and squad size

The 22-year-old is competing to the lead the line for the Blues, with Liam Delap the current first-choice forward option while George Hirst is sidelined with a knee injury. Freddie Ladapo is also available, although widely expected to depart this summer after failing to make the matchday squad against Liverpool or Manchester City.

A loan move for Chelsea’s Armando Broja has stalled, although McKenna has revealed that negotiations are still ongoing.

Any further additions would push Al-Hamadi further down the pecking order, but the Northern Irishman isn’t looking to sanction a loan exit unless that happens.

“The focus at the moment is on Ali being with us, impacting every session and every game,” he explained.

“At the moment, we have Liam Delap, who’s 21 years old in his first season in the Premier League and coming back from a major injury at the back end of last year. He’s still working back to full fitness.

Al-Hamadi has featured in Town's defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City (Image: Ross Halls)

“Then we’ve got Ali and of course Freddie, who’s more of a senior striker, but we’re not deep in that position by any means at the moment.

“There’s always the possibility that things could change over the next 72 hours, that can happen in the last week of a transfer window. At the moment, our focus and Ali’s focus is on working with him to get him ready for the next session and for the next game, which is coming up pretty quickly.”

A number of Championship sides have been linked with Al-Hamadi so far this summer, but he’s enjoyed his experience of Premier League football, becoming the first Iraqi to play in the division by featuring off the bench against Liverpool and Man City.

“It’s one of the many great stories that we have in our squad,” McKenna said. “I was on the pitch with him before the game against Man City on Saturday and he told me that this time last year he had Grimsby away.

“He was on the pitch getting ready for that game, then he’s coming on against Man City as he did against Liverpool.

“Like many players, he’s enjoying the step up. It’s a fine balance between giving yourself a pat on the back and the sense of wonder where he is right now, but also making sure that he’s going out on the pitch with the intent and the mindset to go and impact it. To put a challenge on the opposition and impact his game, impose himself on the level.

“That’s what he’s looking to do, as all the players are, but he’s working his way back from a big injury. We know the journey he’s been on, but I think the most important thing is day-to-day now.

“He’s working to get better and improve his game, to try and impact the team and impact the level.”

One player who certainly won’t be leaving this summer is Cieran Slicker, who was linked with loan moves to a number of Scottish Premiership clubs after revealing his desire go out and gain senior experience.

McKenna has since had conversations with the third-choice goalkeeper about his future at Portman Road, deciding that it’s best for him to remain at the club for the 2024/25 campaign.

“Cieran is going to stay with us. That decision was made pretty early in pre-season and after conversations with Cieran. He’s developing really well here.

Slicker will stay at Portman Road this season (Image: Ross Halls)

“We feel like he’s improving all the time, with the group and with Rene [Gilmartin, goalkeeper coach]. It’s a really important season for us in the Premier League and we want to have three strong goalkeepers.

“He’s very much part of that. He’s also got some important international matches coming up and he’s still getting some game exposure with that.

“We feel like he’s developing really well and this is the best place for his development at the moment. Also for us, it’s really important to have three strong goalkeepers. He’s certainly in that bracket.”

There will need to be some departures between now and Friday night, with a maximum of 25 players able to be registered in Town’s Premier League squad. With further additions possible before deadline day, McKenna has admitted that the club will look to do what’s right for the future and development of those who leave.

“It’s about finding the right thing for the club and for the players. Everyone wants to be playing in the Premier League but there’s only 11 players that can play every week and only a reasonable amount underneath that who you can keep to have appropriate squad depth.

“We want to have a big squad but of course there are limitations to that. We’re having discussions already with the players. At this club, we try and do the right thing by the players as often as possible.

“We’ll try and have good, honest conversations with them, and as much as possible, we’ll try to find the balance between what’s right for us and what’s right for their careers.

“We’re having those conversations every day, every week throughout the season anyway. We’ll be having some this week, but we’ll make sure we’ve got the right depth, the right cover and the right options in the squad while also trying to find the right pathway and the right options for every player who’s under our care.

“We speak to all the individuals in the squad about their pathway and their options, where they’d fit in the squad and what would be best for them this season and beyond. We do that for every player in the squad.”