Mark Ashton (inset) says the Ipswich Town academy is set for ‘a lease of new life’ thanks to Category One status. Under-21s attacker Tommy Taylor (main) was recently on the Blues’

Mark Ashton (inset) says the Ipswich Town academy is set for ‘a lease of new life’ thanks to Category One status. Under-21s attacker Tommy Taylor (main) was recently on the Blues’ bench. (Image: Ross Halls/PA)

Ipswich Town chairman Mark Ashton is keen to see the club’s academy producing players for the first team once again.

 

Kieran McKenna’s current squad currently contains just one homegrown player in the form of Luke Woolfenden, while Harry Clarke (an academy graduate who was sold and re-signed), Elkan Baggott and Cameron Humphreys will all return from loan spells away this summer.

 

The Blues have spent in excess of £125m on transfer and loan fees to acquire 16 different players since securing promotion to the Premier League.

 

The hope, however, is that Category One status – which will bring improved facilities, staffing and games programme – will see the club able to produce more of their own talent.

 

Luke Woolfenden is the only homegrown player in the current Ipswich Town first team squad.

Luke Woolfenden is the only homegrown player in the current Ipswich Town first team squad. (Image: Steve Waller)

 

“We’re tracking quite well for Category One,” revealed Ashton. “We’ve had the initial audit and the feedback on the audit has been outstanding. That is huge credit to Gary Probert (director of football operations), Luke Werhun (chief operating officer) and Dimitri (Halajko, academy director

 

“I think the appointment of Dimitri in our boys’ academy has, excuse the pun, been a game changer for us. He’s a genuine professional and is a brilliant link to Kieran (McKenna) and the first team.

 

“The academy is going to be an area of substantial investment for the club.

 

“Ultimately, as we move forward, we want a blend of our homegrown talent and players that we’ve purchased in the first team squad.

 

“For a number of years the academy has been under-invested in, run down. But now this is an absolute new lease of life that is going to be given.

 

“If everything went perfectly well, we could be licensed by the summer. We’ve still got work to do but there’s a strong possibility of that.

 

“The challenge to us is the facilities, because I can only build them at a certain rate, but there may be ways in which we can put temporary facilities in which leads into the permanent facilities so we can get a year ahead of the curve.”

 

Flynn Downes, currently at Southampton, has been the biggest success story to come out of Ipswich’s academy in recent years.

Flynn Downes, currently at Southampton, has been the biggest success story to come out of Ipswich’s academy in recent years. (Image: PA)

 

Ipswich’s academy produced a string of top players back in the 90s, including the likes of Kieron Dyer, Darren Bent, Richard Wright and Titus Bramble. In more recent times, Flynn Downes, Andre Dozzell and Teddy Bishop came through into the first team before departing.

 

Tommy Taylor, a 19-year-old versatile forward who has been at the club since the age of 10, was an unused sub for Town’s recent FA Cup fifth round exit at Nottingham Forest.

 

Town have recruited England U18 left-back Somto Boniface (Chelsea) and midfielder Tudor Mendel (Anderlecht) for their Under-23s in the last two transfer windows.

 

Ipswich signed England U18 left-back Somto Boniface from Chelsea in January for their U21s.

Ipswich signed England U18 left-back Somto Boniface from Chelsea in January for their U21s. (Image: Ross Halls)

 

Asked if the academy really was still seen a major part of the club, Ashton insisted: “It has to be. It has to be.

 

“The challenge that we’ve had, both on and off the pitch, is that the rate of growth has been so quick and so steep.

 

“As I’ve said before, you can’t get infrastructure built underneath it quick enough. As a result, we’ve just had to put a lot of our energy and focus into the first team and Portman Road and getting ready for the Premier League.

 

“But the plan is the plan and the academy is a fundamental pillar upon that football development plan.

 

“We want to see homegrown talent coming through the system, whether that’s from nine years of age right the way through to the first team, like a Woolfy (Luke Woolfenden), or whether that’s someone we acquire for the 23s and then develop for a couple of years ready for the first team again.

 

“But the academy is a rock solid pillar that we’ve got to build on.”

 

Ipswich signed midfielder Tudor Mendel, a former Chelsea youth teamer, from Anderlecht last summer. He’s been playing for the U21s.

Ipswich signed midfielder Tudor Mendel, a former Chelsea youth teamer, from Anderlecht last summer. He’s been playing for the U21s. (Image: Ross Halls)

 

Meanwhile, Ashton revealed that work has started on the club’s new multi-million pound major training ground revamp.

 

“You’ll have seen plans were approved this week,” he said. “I think there’s some diggers on site now almost and we’re very keen to get underway.

 

“The current building that accommodates everything will be totally refurbished and that will ultimately be for our Cat One academy and women’s team, then the new building will be for the men’s first team. They’re all going to get substantially improved facilities.”

 

 

George Hirst scored in Ipswich Town’s recent FA Cup exit at Nottingham Forest.

George Hirst scored in Ipswich Town’s recent FA Cup exit at Nottingham Forest. (Image: PA)

Ipswich Town take on Nottingham Forest, at Portman Road, in a Premier League match this afternoon (3pm). Stuart Watson previews the action…

 

Ismaila Sarr’s scored the only goal of the game as Ipswich Town lost 1-0 at Crystal Palace last weekend.

Ismaila Sarr scored the only goal of the game as Ipswich Town lost 1-0 at Crystal Palace last weekend. (Image: PA)

 

 

 

With 10 games left, we now can now officially call this ‘the run-in’.

 

Three wins and eight draws from 28 Premier League games leaves Town with just 17 points to their name.

 

The gap to safety grew to six points last weekend (effectively seven due to goal difference) after the Blues’ 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace was followed up by Wolves securing a 1-1 comeback home draw with Everton.

 

Wolves are at rock-bottom Southampton this afternoon (also 3pm). With the latter having taken just four points at St Mary’s all season, Ipswich can’t be relying on the Saints for a favour.

 

Meanwhile, Leicester – on the same points as Town, let’s not forget – host woefully out of form Man United (who are fresh from Thursday night Europa League action at Real Sociedad) tomorrow evening (7pm).

 

With the above in mind, it feels vital that Ipswich get something today if they are to keep this relegation fight alive.

 

Jack Taylor’s saved penalty proved decisive as Ipswich Town exited the FA Cup at Nottingham Forest recently.

Jack Taylor’s saved penalty proved decisive as Ipswich Town exited the FA Cup at Nottingham Forest recently.

 

 

 

Town have faced Forest twice already this season – both times at The City Ground.

 

The Premier League encounter came at the end of November. In a scrappy, stop-start game of few chances, Chris Wood’s converted spot-kick early in the second half proved the difference. Jota Silva had taken a dramatic tumble in the box after Sammie Szmodics’ challenge. Town huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser.

 

“On the balance of play I don’t think anyone could have had any complaints had it been a draw,” said Kieran McKenna. “I don’t think you can say we did enough to win the game, but I think it was competitive enough to say that a draw would have been an even result.”

 

Less than a fortnight ago, back in the East Midlands, Town took an FA Cup fifth round match all the way to penalties. George Hirst’s headed opener at a corner was cancelled out by Ryan Yates’ headed finish in a second phase that followed a free-kick delivery. It finished 1-1 after 120 minutes. Jack Taylor’s saved spot-kick at the end of a high quality shootout ultimately saw jubilant Forest set-up a quarter-final tie at Brighton.

 

“I’m really proud of the efforts of the players,” said McKenna. “I don’t think they could have put anything more into the game.

 

“We came into the game with a lot of challenges, we had some more challenges as the game went on picking up some injuries, so I think the way the team competed and fought, and some of the football we played as the game grew on, was really good. I think players will take great belief and confidence from tonight.”

 

Can Town go one further and beat Forest on home soil today? The Blues are certainly due a victory at Portman Road.

 

Callum Hudson-Odoi scored Nottingham Forest’s winner against Man City last weekend.

Callum Hudson-Odoi scored Nottingham Forest’s winner against Man City last weekend. (Image: PA)

 

 

 

Forest recently ended a 20+ year absence from the Premier League then spent big in their attempts to stay there. Sounds familiar, right?

 

Having just about clung on in 2022/23 and 2023/24, the East Midlands side have been the surprise package of this campaign. Nuno Espirito Santo’s team, a mix of smart foreign buys and ‘big club’ cast-offs, currently find themselves third and dreaming of Champions League qualification.

 

Their form of late has been mixed. A 5-0 defeat at Bournemouth in late January was followed up by a 7-0 home thrashing of Brighton. After that they faltered slightly. A much-changed side squeezed through an FA Cup tie at Exeter on penalties, then came defeats at Fulham (2-1) and Newcastle (4-3), plus a 0-0 home draw with Arsenal.

 

Last weekend’s 1-0 home win against Man City, secured by Callum Hudson-Odoi’s late goal, represented a first league victory in five weeks.

 

Just seven points separates third and ninth. The battle for European spots is hotting up. Forest, having been tipped by many to fade away all season, will be fired up to prove their doubters wrong.

 

That said, they’ll be feeling a bit of pressure too, especially for a game like this one today where they’re seen as strong favourites.

 

Omari Hutchinson could return to the Ipswich starting XI after recovering fully from a knee injury.

Omari Hutchinson could return to the Ipswich starting XI after recovering fully from a knee injury. (Image: PA)

 

WHO PLAYS?

 

Remarkably, McKenna has never named an unchanged side this season. Might this be when that finally happens? I’m not so sure.

 

The team that started last weekend’s 1-0 loss at Palace was: Palmer; O’Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis; Phillips, Cajuste; Philogene, Enciso, Clarke; Delap.

 

Omari Hutchinson, who made his injury return off the bench last weekend, will almost certainly come into the team if fit.

 

There’s an argument that Cameron Burgess should replace Jacob Greaves at left-sided centre-back. The former never let the side down earlier in the campaign, while the latter hasn’t quite hit the same early heights since recovering from a hamstring injury around the turn of the year.

 

There’s also an argument that Ben Johnson, who was one of Town’s best performers in the most recent game against Forest, should come in for either Jaden Philogene or Jack Clarke. That would see the formation revert to more of a 3-4-2-1 and enable Town to try and deal with pacey counter-attacking wide threats of Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga better.

 

Or, if McKenna really wants to go for it, how about starting both Liam Delap and George Hirst? Delap playing wide right could bamboozle Forest. Just a thought…

 

Predicted team: Palmer; O’Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis; Phillips, Morsy; Philogene, Hutchinson, Enciso; Delap.

 

 

I take optimism from that recent FA Cup display at The City Ground, but am also realistic enough to know that the table tells no lies and Nottingham Forest are miles ahead when it comes to team chemistry. I’m expecting another really tight game between these two sides. I toyed with predicting both a win and defeat before ultimately settling on 1-1.

 

 

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna (centre) says he will continue to trust the process.:

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna (centre) says he will continue to trust the process. (Image: PA)

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna insists he will continue to focus on developing the team for the long-term rather than searching for a quick fix solution going into the final stages of a relegation fight.

 

Following back-to-back promotions, the Blues are staring down the barrel of relegation back to the Championship after winning just three of their 28 Premier League games so far this season.

 

There’s no doubting that Town have been highly competitive in the majority of their matches in the top flight, but it’s been a sobering season of repeated fine margins defeats.

 

With a six-point deficit to make up on Wolves (effectively seven due to goal difference), the Blues boss was asked if greater weight would now be put on finding ways to get points rather than performances.

 

“We’ve always believed that good performances lead to points,” he replied.

 

“Of course, when you get to the end stage of the season, you maybe think a little bit more short-term. If you’re at the start of the season and you’re picking up results from poor performances you’re glad to have the points, but you also know that in the longer-term it’s not going to lead you to where you want to get.

 

“The feel does change a little bit the closer you get to the end of the season. With less games ahead, results feel more important. But the best way, we believe, is still to focus on the performances.”

 

The Blues boss added: “Every experience for us this year has been a big challenge.

 

“Some go your way and plenty don’t go your way, but I think if you keep approaching them in the right way, if you keep finding the right response in your daily work, if you stay consistent in your behaviours, stay consistent in our processes, stay consistent in trying to drive the culture here, I think that builds trust between a group that hasn’t been together that long in the pathway that we’re on.

 

“We keep reviewing and renewing the things that we’re doing well and keep looking for ways to get better. I think that has been really consistent and common across the three years here, and we’re doing it in a different context this year.”