Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna says believes Nathan Broadhead can have 'a big impact' over the coming weeks.

Having played a huge role in the club securing back-to-back promotions, the Welsh forward is the only outfield player in the squad not have been handed Premier League minutes so far this season.

A big part of that is down to the fact he suffered a hamstring injury in the very early stages of pre-season and, more recently, had a set-back with his groin.

“He’s training well,” said McKenna, speaking ahead of Saturday's game at Nottingham Forest.

“He had an injury in the week building up to the Tottenham game. It was unfortunate he wasn’t able to go on international duty because he’s eager to get game time and we’re eager for him to get game time.

“His injury very early in pre-season ruled him out well into the autumn and it’s been longer than any of us would have wanted since he last played.

“He’s training well now though and not feeling any problems. We know the talent that he has and that he can play a big role in helping us create and score goals.

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"I feel like there’s every chance that he’ll have his opportunities to do that over the next few weeks with the way the fixtures are coming. He’s ready to go and hopefully he can have a big impact for us."

McKenna said he has no fresh injury issues following last weekend's 1-1 home draw against Manchester United. Kalvin Phillips and Ben Johnson, who both missed that game with minor injuries, will once again be late judgement calls.

 

Asked if he knew anymore about how long striker George Hirst would be sidelined for, after he injured his knee at Tottenham, the Blues boss replied: “He's had another scan and it wasn’t particularly great news. It’s going to be a period of time, certainly. We’re still not exactly sure, but it’s going to take us through the Christmas period, we think.”

 

That leaves Ali-Hamadi, who signed from League Two club AFC Wimbledon in January and underwent groin surgery in the summer, as the only out-and-out striker backing up the in-form Liam Delap.

“For Ali, it’s a really good opportunity,” said McKenna. “But not just for Ali because Sam Szmodics can play in a version of a striker role, Nathan Broadhead can play in a version of a striker role, but Ali is the most natural last line presence of a striker and he’s really looking forward to it.

"I have to say he's trained really well over the last couple of weeks. He's been really dialled in for a good period of time, has been outstanding with his application and when you do that it means team-mates are really rooting for that player. Hopefully he can have a good impact for us.

"We have to remember that coming on the other night that was the first time he stepped on a pitch since August. And in August he was coming off the back of a big, big operation. He's not match sharp yet, no doubt about that. But he's going to really hard to gain that over the next few weeks and we feel with his qualities he can give problems to any defence."

Meanwhile, the Blues boss said that Jacob Greaves is available for selection again having missed the last five games with a hamstring injury.

Asked if it would be hard to drop Cameron Burgess from the left-sided centre-back role after some impressive displays, McKenna replied: "It's the type of decision you want to have. Jacob was certainly one of our best players in the early parts of the season, then unfortunately he picked up his injury and Cameron Burgess has done very well since he came into the team. That's where we'd like to be in every position to be honest."