Kieran McKenna has issued injury updates on Sammie Szmodics and Conor Chaplin.
Kieran McKenna has issued injury updates on Sammie Szmodics and Conor Chaplin.
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has provided an injuries update ahead of Saturday’s game at Liverpool and discussed the role he has in mind for new signing Julio Enciso.
Just Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles), Conor Chaplin (knee) and Sammie Szmodics (ankle) were missing for last Sunday’s 6-0 home defeat to Manchester City.
“Nothing too drastically different,” said McKenna, when asked for a fitness update.
“Sam Szmodics and Conor Chapin are still going to fall short. Axel (Tuanzebe)’s had some more time with the group, Ben Godfrey’s had some more time with the group, which has been useful.”
On Tuanzebe, who returned from a hamstring injury as a sub against City, McKenna said: “He’s come through well. It was a big, big positive from the day.
There’s was a small debate on starting him, because he’d trained well a few days before, but despite how the day went we’re probably glad with that decision because he came through the game well, had some good training days, and is now more ready to start a game than he was last weekend. Whether that will happen this Saturday or in one of the games coming up, he’s certainly getting closer to that point.”
On new signing Enciso, who has arrived on loan from Brighton, he said: “I think he’s, in essence, a number 10 behind the front man. He can play off the wide areas coming into the No.10 off both sides.
He’s played as a false nine dropping down into the 10 spaces. I think he’s a player who thrives being in the half spaces and between the lines where he turn, shoot, dribble and play passes. Those are the areas of the pitch we need to try and get him.”
