A couple of unfortunate injuries held his career back somewhat, but there’s no denying that a fully fit Dack was among the best players in the division for a number of years.

Dack certainly had a tumultuous time at the start of his career, bouncing around academies in the youth of his career, before catching his break when he was handed a scholarship at Gillingham.

It was in Kent where his career really took off, with Dack making a name for himself there, establishing himself as one of the leading creators in the third tier, although he was never able to help Gills over the line in their promotion push.

It was that kind of form which caught the eye of Blackburn after their relegation from the Championship, with Rovers beating off competition from Ipswich Town and Bristol City to land League One’s hottest prospect.

The most unusual thing about Rovers signing Dack was probably the fee they signed him for.

Gillingham reportedly turned down a bid of £2m for Dack from Bristol City at the end of the January 2016 transfer window, so it was something of a surprise when Rovers landed him 18 months later, after yet another good season, for a cut-price £750,000 deal.

Such was the disparity between the two clubs that Blackburn were also a League One club then and able to spend the kind of fees Gills could only dream of, but his first season in Lancashire proved he was worth every single penny of that fee.

Dack spearheaded Rovers‘ push for an instant return to the Championship, and his 27 goal contributions certainly helped that quest, which was ultimately a successful one as they finished in the top two.

But he had the strikers instinct and just perfectly knew how to play his position under Tony Mowbray, who at that point was the perfect manager for Dack to play under.

It was one thing Dack performing in League One, but there was a huge question surrounding how he would fare in the Championship considering he’d never played at that level in his career.

He answered those doubters emphatically in his first Championship campaign though, racking up an impressive 22 goal contributions, including 15 goals, as he helped Rovers consolidate their place in the second tier.

Ipswich and Bristol City would certainly have been looking on with envy at that point, knowing they’d missed out on a player who had gone on to prove he was among the best in the Championship when isolating his attacking output.

Unfortunately for Dack and Rovers, the season after brought around the beginning of the end as far as his Ewood Park career was concerned, as despite picking up where he left off at the start of the 2019/20 campaign, his season was cut short with a cruciate ligament injury in December.

He battled back to return over a year later, before two months later he suffered a repeat of the injury, and when he came back he lacked the edge he had before the injuries.

An unsuccessful move to Sunderland followed, before Dack re-joined Gillingham to signal his career going full circle, and although his career is now firmly fizzling out, Ipswich and Bristol City will surely wonder how their fortunes would have differed had they signed Dack.

Frank Lampard admits that he needs to manage his Coventry City squad as they prepare for their second game in the space of seven days when they take on Premier League Ipswich Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The Sky Blues boss had the luxury of being able to field near his strongest available team in the third round, when they saw off Sheffield Wednesday after extra-time and penalties, but concedes some of his players who haven’t been getting so many minutes of late may get their chance against the Tractor Boys.

Kieran McKenna’s men travel to the CBS Arena on the back of four straight defeats, having only won three top flight games all season to leave them battling relegation at second from bottom of the table. And although McKenna made ten changes against Bristol Rovers in the third round, which they won 3-0 at Portman Road, Lampard admits he doesn’t know what his team will face on Saturday afternoon.

“And there are big differences; we played on Wednesday, they didn’t. We play on Tuesday, they don’t, so what they’ll do, we don’t know. There could be some more rotations or it could be fewer. We don’t know that so we just have to approach the game expecting their strongest team, expecting whatever changes they make keeps them pretty much as strong.”

Asked, bearing in mind City’s schedule of three games in the space of seven days whether he will be making use of his whole squad, Lampard admitted: “Yeah, and we’re not got the biggest squad so some players that haven’t been getting so many minutes may get opportunities, individually, to show themselves. And we’ll need the freshness, definitely, with that quick turnaround. It’s a busy part in what is already a pretty long season, so we’ll have to use it as well as we can.”

Players who could come in include the likes of defenders Luis Binks and Jay Dasilva, midfielder Josh Eccles, wingers Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Raphael Borges Rodrigues and striker Norman Bassette. Meanwhile, right wing-back Jack Burroughs could provide a rest for Milan van Ewijk.

City came up short against the Championship leaders Leeds United on Wednesday night’s 2-0 home defeat. Asked if there’s likely to be much of a gulf between Leeds and their FA Cup opponents, Ipswich, the City boss said: “I don’t know, it’s not for me to decide, I suppose, as such.

“Ipswich were a fantastic side in the Championship last year. They’ve also gone and added to their squad and are competing in the Premier League, playing at that level week in and week out, so it feels like they’ll be the strongest team we have played against, pound for pound.

“But maybe that’s where the Leeds game can provide some valuable little pointers for us in terms of that step up in quality and what it means for us with and without the ball, because we could be better than we were against Leeds on both fronts. So we’ll see.”

Lampard clearly wants a cup run but asked if he fears it could be a distraction from the league, bearing in mind how last season’s FA Cup success affected the team’s play-off form, he said: “Well, I wasn’t here so it’s difficult to absolutely talk about that. I’ve heard it mentioned but for me, Cup runs are generally always good for confidence. You want to manage the squad, you want to have as many games and FA Cup games deep into the competition are great things.

“So you know, we like to think we want to win every game that we play. You approach every game as it comes and I’m not going with any other thought than trying to win the game to get to the next round.”

Do you think Frank should play his strongest side or manage his squad? Click HERE to have your say.

Get the latest Coventry City headlines sent straight to your phone

Get the latest Coventry City news sent straight to your phone by joining our Sky Blues WhatsApp group. It’s a free service. You just need WhatsApp on your phones to participate. To join, just click here, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in. If you later decide to leave our community, you can do so by clicking on the name at the top of your screen and clicking ‘Exit Group’. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you are curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

READ NEXT:

Tony Mowbray has indicated Alex Palmer’s sale to Ipswich Town was key to ensuring the club could afford to bring in Adam Armstrong.

On a surprisingly busy final day, Albion fans were unhappy to see that number one Palmer had moved to the Premier League strugglers in a transfer that could be worth up to £5m.

However, there was good news to follow for the Baggies, as they sealed a deal for exciting attacking talent Tammer Bany from Randers, before they finalised a loan switch for Armstrong from Southampton in what was a real coup.

It has been reported that West Brom have paid a loan fee to Saints for the striker, whilst they are also contributing a ‘significant’ percentage of his salary.

So, it’s a hefty outlay for someone who may only play 16 times in the blue-and-white stripes, and Mowbray explained to Birmingham Live that they had to free up space in the budget with Palmer’s exit to make these moves happen.

“Was it the right thing for the club (Palmer to Ipswich)? When you take everything into consideration, all the financial things – yes. If it did help bring in Tammer [Bany] for instance, or [Adam] Armstrong’s salary, then it makes sense to me. Sometimes you have to let one go to add in other areas.

Most clubs now have to take risks when trading players, and that’s what Albion have done here.

Clearly, Palmer was a quality keeper at this level, but the club clearly feel in Joe Wildsmith and Josh Griffiths that they have capable options to choose from.

“Fully expect” – Pundit tips Everton, Brighton target to leave West Brom on one condition

So, they sanctioned Palmer’s move to free up funds, and they now have arguably the standout attacker in the entire division. Armstrong has scored 28 and 24 times in his last two years at this level, so he should guarantee goals over the next few months.

Whilst Josh Maja has been prolific, he has suffered injury issues, and there was a reliance on the ex-Sunderland man to find the net.

Now, Armstrong is ready to contribute, and he has shown that he can stand up in high pressure moments in the Championship – as Albion and Leeds found out in the play-offs last season.

Ultimately, this signing will be judged over the next few months, but if Armstrong scores the goals that take West Brom back to the Premier League, it will be seen as a brilliant Deadline Day by the club.

Manchester United will consider turning their attentions towards attempting to lure Ipswich Town star Liam Delap to Old Trafford if it becomes clear that deals for Sporting marksman Viktor Gyokeres and Galatasaray loanee Victor Osimhen will be impossible in the summer, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

The Red Devils made adjustments to their squad during the final days of the winter transfer window, with head coach Ruben Amorim completing the £30million acquisition of Patrick Dorgu from Serie A strugglers Lecce and teenage defender swapping Premier League rivals Arsenal for a fresh challenge.

But Manchester United were unable to bring in a new first-choice centre forward ahead of the February 3 deadline, despite allowing Marcus Rashford to join Aston Villa on an initial loan deal which includes a £40million option to buy, resulting in plans already being put in place to dive into the market ahead of next season.

Manchester United could make a summer move for Delap, according to GMS sources, as he has been identified as an alternative target after the decision was made to explore other options amid fears that Amorim will be unable to secure a reunion with Gyokeres and Osimhen will not join at the end of his season-long loan spell with Galatasaray.

The striker, who has been described as ‘lethal’, only sealed a switch to Ipswich in July after seeing his route into the first-team picture at Manchester City blocked by Erling Haaland, and the Red Devils are excited by his potential thanks to his prolific performances for a side struggling to claw their way out of the Premier League’s relegation zone.

GMS sources have been informed that Gyokeres and Osimhen are at the top of Manchester United’s wishlist as they prepare to go in search of additional firepower, but contract demands and price tags mean they will have to overcome significant hurdles to get either deal over the line and that has resulted in Delap being earmarked as a potential recruit.

Amorim and influential figures at Old Trafford will become increasingly confident of being able to land the England under-21 international, who has bagged more than four times as many Premier League goals as Red Devils frontman Rasmus Hojlund, if Ipswich drop into the Championship.

Manchester United’s ability to land Delap could depend on what happens to their current frontmen when the transfer window reopens, GMS sources have learned, but Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee are likely to head through the exit door unless their form drastically improves in the final months of the campaign.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Liam Delap registered four shots and made two key passes during a goalscoring performance for Ipswich Town against Southampton last weekend

GMS sources have been told that Manchester United are in danger of facing stiff competition from Chelsea for Delap’s signature as the west Londoners began pushing for a deal last month and made tentative contact through agents before it became clear that he was not prepared to put pressure on Ipswich to sanction a mid-season move.

The Blues are expected to permanently part ways with Joao Felix in the summer, having allowed him to join AC Milan for a £5million loan fee on deadline day and the Italian giants are keen to keep him if he shines at the San Siro, while boss Enzo Maresca is also likely to allow Christopher Nkunku to leave Stamford Bridge.

Delap would have cost in the region of £50million during the winter transfer window, GMS sources understand, and Chelsea are confident they can win the race for his services despite Manchester United circling and reigning Premier League champions Manchester City being able to take advantage of a buyback clause.

capital club and Red Devils, GMS sources recently revealed that Sky Blues chief Pep Guardiola has no interest in luring the 21-year-old back to the Etihad Stadium, and the decision to tie Haaland down to a long-term contract and sign Omar Marmoush could open the door to head elsewhere in the coming months.

Sign up to The GIVEMESPORT Report to get exclusive daily updates from Fabrizio Romano, Ben Jacobs, Dean Jones and Tom Bogert sent straight to your inbox

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna issued mixed injury updates on attacking duo Sammie Szmodics and Conor Chaplin as this afternoon’s pre-match press conference.

Szmodics has missed the last five games with an ankle issue, while Chaplin (knee) has been unavailable for the last six with a knee problem.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup fourth round tie at Championship club Coventry City, McKenna said:

“Sam Szmodics will be in the squad tomorrow – he’s trained today with the group. Conor Chaplin is not training yet.

“It’s good to have Sam back. He’s been an important figure with his goals, but also he’s a different type to the forwards we’ve had playing for the last couple of weeks. He’s also an older player for what has been a really young unit.”

Providing an update on Wes Burns, who suffered a bad knee injury in the 4-1 defeat at Liverpool last month, the Blues boss said: “He had surgery to repair his ACL and thankfully it all went well. There wasn’t too much damage to the other parts of the knee, so it was as positive as it could be.”0:05

Meanwhile, the Blues boss confirmed he will, once again, be making wholesale changes to his team for cup action.

“There will be changes in the team,” he said. “That’s how we’ve approached the cup competitions in the last few years and it’s been a really important part of our success.

“We’ve always tried to carry a deep squad where every player feels like they’re competing for minutes and are trusted to play minutes. When different players come into the team during the run-in it shows if they’ve felt valued throughout the season.

“You also know, with changes, that there’s a chance that maybe it won’t always be as fluent as it is with a settled side.

“In the last round the team showed how well we’re working behind the scenes as a group with the performance we were able to produce against lower league opposition (Bristol Rovers).

“The challenge is to do that again now against a really good Championship side. It’s a chance to show the strength and depth in our group.”

Potential line-up: Palmer; Godfrey, Woolfenden, Burgess, Townsend; Phillips, Taylor; Philogene, Szmodics, J.Clarke; Hirst.

Town boss Kieran McKenna says winger Wes Burns’s ACL surgery went well, Christian Walton is expected to be out for eight weeks, but Sammie Szmodics is back for Saturday’s fourth-round FA Cup tie at Coventry with a couple of other players facing checks.

Burns has been ruled out for the season with the injury he suffered at Liverpool but McKenna says the operation that the Wales international underwent earlier in the week went well.

“He had surgery,” McKenna said. “Thankfully all went well to repair his ACL. There wasn’t too much damage to the other parts of the knee, so it’s as positive as it could be.”0:00

“Sam Szmodics will be in the squad tomorrow, he’s trained today with the group,” he said. “Conor Chaplin’s not training yet.

“It’s good to have Sam back. He’s been an important figure with his goals but he’s a different type to the forwards we had playing last week or over the last couple of weeks, and also an older player in that unit as well, which was a really young unit last weekend.

“George Hirst is the senior figure in there and he’s in his mid-twenties. Nice to have Sam back and the different dynamic that he brings to that group.”

Regarding Walton, who strained his groin at Liverpool, McKenna added: “It’s looking at in and around eight weeks for the prognosis. Of course, for these things you have to monitor as you go along. Sometimes it can be a little bit quicker, sometimes a little bit longer.

“We’ll get him back as quickly as possible, but it’s that kind of rough timescale we’ve been given.”

In addition, the Blues boss says there are one or two doubts: “We’ve got one or two we’re getting checks on, nothing major, but we’ve got one or two with niggly injuries that we’re going to check on that there’s going to be a late decision on whether they’re going to be available for the game.”

Regarding U21s possibly being involved, he added: “Not impossible one, but we’ll checking on the availability of one or two of ours. We’ve got pretty good depth at the moment.

“There’s a possibility one might be involved but also a possibility that we’ll be travelling with a really good bill of health for the senior players and try and keep that group together.”

McKenna confirmed there would be the expected changes and wouldn’t commit on whether new keeper Alex Palmer would be handed his debut.

“We’ll make the decision on tomorrow, what we think is right for the team and the group and we’ll do that for every game,” he said.

Chiedozie Ogbene suffered an achilles tear at Brentford in October and is making progress but McKenna says is not expected to return this season.

“Progressing very well in terms of the rehab that he can [do] and has been good around the building,” he said. “But very unlikely to be involved this season as it stands.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.

Since defeating relegation rivals Ipswich Town last time out, it’s been one step forward and two steps back for Southampton following frustrating news both within Ivan Juric’s squad and the transfer window.

Whilst survival may be still be a world away – 10 points to be exact – victory over Ipswich at least put Southampton on the right path towards attempting the impossible. And it looked as though they were about to follow three points up move with movement in the transfer window, only for their deal to sign Abakar Sylla to collapse in the dying embers of the winter window.

Forced to settle for the reinforcements that they had already welcomed, the Saints will be desperate to see Wellington, Joachim Kayi-Sanda, Rento Takaoka and Albert Gronbaek all leave their mark on Juric’s side.

The latter has already enjoyed a rare Premier League victory at St Mary’s, having started for the first time in his new side’s 2-1 win over Ipswich. But he won’t want to stop there even if the Saints will be forced to cope without one senior figure on the injury front yet again in the coming weeks.

As confirmed by Juric, Jack Stephens is facing another spell on the sidelines after only just making his return to the side from a lengthy month-long injury. The Saints boss stated that he is “not optimistic” about his captain’s setback in what is a frustrating blow for those at St Mary’s.

Left to cover for the experienced defender last time out was Joe Aribo, who filled in at centre-back from his usual role in midfield. Speaking to reporters, he reiterated his willingness to adjust if needed once again in the face of Stephens’ injury.

The former Rangers man said: “We are willing to do anything to get over the line. We have to fight together. If I’ve got to go into a position that I’m not familiar with, then I have to play there to the best of my ability. That’s what I was able to do today.”

Just when Stephens is back remains to be seen, but Juric’s lack of optimism is certainly not a good sign. The Southampton captain has endured a stop-start season, having missed four of the opening 10 Premier League games through suspension and then nine of the last 10 games through injury from the beginning of December into the new year.

His absence comes at a time when Southampton have needed him most too. The Saints have so far conceded 54 goals in just 24 Premier League games – one more than relegation rivals Leicester City and the most in England’s top flight. The argument could certainly be had that with Stephens, that record may have been less damaging.

For now though, Juric must cope without his senior defender once again and search for an internal solution. Whether that sees Aribo drop back once again will certainly be interesting to see in their FA Cup tie against Burnley this weekend.

Ipswich Town has submitted plans for a new car park near the Sir Alf Ramsey stand, part of which would be for staff and media personnel.

The club, with agents Boyer Planning, submitted the proposals to Ipswich Borough Council to use a space made empty after Staples and Better Gym left the site in May 2023.

The plans for the 168-space car park have been drawn up following talks with the nearby Travelodge, which will use 17 spaces and have a separate entry.

Of the rest, 113 would be available for long-stay public use, including 6 disabled parking bays.

The club’s staff, outside media personnel and broadcasters would have access to 55 spaces in the car park.The club announced plans for this car park last December (Image: Hoopers.)

The club is asking for permission to use this car park for seven years, which can be extended with an application later.

Additionally, parking spaces are going to be lost on Portman Road, as the council plans to develop a new swimming pool in the area.

In a statement to the council, Boyer Planning wrote: “Whilst Local Plan policies would resist additional long stay car parking capacity in this location, it is clear that this proposal would not result in any net additional spaces.

“Rather, it will provide replacement capacity for spaces that will be temporarily lost whilst land to the east of Portman Road is being redeveloped.”

Work is expected to begin later this year, should the application be approved.The land has been vacant since Staples and Better Gym were demolished in May 2023 (Image: Shikhar Talwar)

As part of the work, the temporary hoardings that are currently in place will be removed.

The Sir Alf Ramsey Stand, originally known as the South Stand, was rebuilt in the early 2000s following the club’s promotion to the Premier League and qualification for the UEFA Cup after a fifth-place finish in 2001.

In 2012, it was renamed after the legendary Ipswich and England manager who led the club to the third division title in 1957, second division title in 1961 and first division title in 1962.