My ugh ç  ambitions, and Ipswich’s survival hopes in a dismal weekend for the Tractor Boys which saw them fall to a costly 2-1 loss against basement side Southampton.

The Villans will hope to be back to their best against Ipswich this weekend and could hand debuts to loanees Marcus Rashford and Marcos Asensio. Meanwhile, Jaden Philogene, whose return to Emery’s team was short-lived, will have a huge point to prove on his return to Villa Park.

However, both managers also have their fair share of injury issues to deal with this weekend. Ahead of kick-off, we take a look at the injury situation of both teams.

Ipswich Town injury news
Ipswich Town are without long-term absentees Wesley Burns and Chiedozie Ogbene until the end of the season. Christian Walton is out until April with a groin problem while Conor Chaplin is still yet to return to training after picking up a knee injury.

 

Marquee summer signing Sammie Szmodics has struggled with an ankle injury in recent weeks and faces a late fitness test ahead of the trip to Villa Park. Kieran McKenna explained: “I don’t know if it’s a recurrence, but it’s the same ankle, so the chances are it’s probably linked. That’s a big blow, no doubt about it. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.”

Aston Villa injury news
Ross Barkley, who has missed the last five matches with a calf injury, is due to return to full training this week but is unlikely to be ready to start on Saturday. Key defender Ezri Konsa was withdrawn before the 30 minute mark against Spurs after beating the ground in frustration after picking up an injury. He is still being assessed along with experienced centre-back partner Tyrone Mings, who picked up a small knee injury in January.

Polish international wing-back Matty Cash, meanwhile, was sidelined for “three to four weeks”, in Emery’s words, by an unknown muscle injury at the end of January. He is expected to miss the upcoming games against Ipswich and Liverpool.

Spanish international Pau Torres, who was a stalwart last term, remains on the sidelines as he continues his rehab from an ankle injury. Early March remains the nearest possible return date for the 28-year-old.

Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins suffered a groin injury during the recent 2-0 league defeat to Wolves and it appears that he is still feeling the effects. The England international didn’t train last week, according to Emery, and it is not yet clear when he will be back on the turf at Bodymoor Heath. He is ac doubt heading into the game against Ipswich, with both Donyell Malen and Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio being potential alternatives in the number nine role.
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Since leaving Sunderland in the summer transfer window, Jack Clarke has had a pretty tough time at Ipswich Town. But his fortunes may be changing ever so steadily.

 

Sunderland finally parted ways with Jack Clarke last summer, after a couple of transfer windows of fending off bids for the former Leeds United and Spurs winger.

 

In the end, Ipswich Town paid £18million to sign Clarke from the Black Cats. Since then however, it’s been a pretty bleak time for the 24-year-old at Portman Road.

 

In the Premier League this season, Clarke has played 19 times without scoring, grabbing just two assists. There’s since been a lot of talk about the transfer to Ipswich with former Sunderland man Phil Bardsley critical of Clarke’s move.

 

Nonetheless, Ipswich still have big hopes and plans for the Englishman. Then in the FA Cup last weekend, Clarke scored a couple of goals for Ipswich Town, netting a brace in the 4-1 win away at Coventry City.

 

Jack Clarke of Ipswich Town participates in the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town at the City Ground in Nottingham, E…

 

Former Sunderland star Jack Clarke hailed at Ipswich Town

After scoring those goals against Coventry, a weight will have been lifted off of Clarke. Now, it’ll give Kieran McKenna a decision to make ahead of Ipswich Town’s upcoming Premier league clash against Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.

 

Speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk, pundit and former Ipswich man Paul Anderson has backed Clarke to feature against Villa from the off. He said: “As attacking players, goals are always that confidence builder, but forget about the goals. If he wouldn’t have scored [against Coventry] he still would have been the difference between the teams.

 

“With his football intelligence and the positions he was picking up on the pitch, he caused real problems to the Coventry defence. When he got the ball he tended to make the right decision most of the time.

 

 

“With a performance like that, he would hope to have put his name on the team sheet against Aston Villa.”

 

As things stand, Ipswich Town sit in 19th place of the Premier League table and are already 12 points adrift, with just three wins all season and now 14 games left to play.

 

What Jack Clarke has said about his Ipswich Town form

Clarke scored his first goal for Ipswich Town in the previous FA Cup win over Bristol Rovers. Then after the game, Clarke spoke about his recent form and stated that he hoped his goal would give him some momentum, which it has.

 

The former Sunderland star said: “That one felt nice and hopefully I can give myself a bit of momentum going into the next few games. I never try and think about it [poor form] too much. As long as you’re doing the right things day in, day out, your luck is going to turn at some point.”

 

Now, Clarke needs consistency. And he needs to get on the scoresheet in the Premier League and prove to fans that he can cut it in the top flight, not just in the FA Cup against weaker opponents.

 

Villa is another tricky game for the Tractor Boys. But like Anderson says, Clarke could get his chance on Saturday after impressing against Coventry, and if he takes his chance then it could spark a run of starts for the winger.

 

Kalvin Phillips has only started 10 Premier League games during his loan spell from Manchester City.

Kalvin Phillips has only started 10 Premier League games during his loan spell from Manchester City.

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna believes Kalvin Phillips ‘can have a really big impact’ in the remaining games of the season.

 

The 31-cap England international joined the Blues on a season-long loan from Manchester City last summer looking to rebuild confidence and fitness.

 

Since serving a three-game suspension back in November, however, he’s started just four Premier League games.

 

“Of his 10 (league) starts, I don’t know, he’s been unavailable for maybe six or seven, possibly, with the suspension and with the niggle and ankle injury that he had,” said McKenna, speaking ahead of Saturday’s game at Aston Villa.

 

“There’s good competition in midfield. I think Jens Cajuste has been excellent when he’s played and has stepped up and delivered a really, really high level of performance. Samy (Morsy), of course, is the captain but also has been consistent with his performances as well.

 

“I think Kalvin’s played a good amount of games. I don’t know the exact numbers but 10 starts is considerably more league starts than what he’s made in the last two seasons.

 

“I think he’s improving and, of course, we all want things to accelerate really, really quickly. He’s in a much better rhythm now than he was when he arrived and hopefully that’ll continue and he can have a really big impact on the last bit of the season.

 

“Kalvin has shown good qualities and is hungry to help the team. We feel that he can have a good impact and a good part to play in the next few months.”

 

 

Sammie Szmodics could feature in Town’s game at Aston Villa this weekend.

Sammie Szmodics could feature in Town’s game at Aston Villa this weekend. (Image: PA)

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has revealed that Sammie Szmodics could be fit for Saturday’s Premier League match at Aston Villa.

 

The four-goal forward limped off 35 minutes into last weekend’s 4-1 FA Cup win at Coventry after suffering a recurrence of the ankle problem that had sidelined him for the previous five matches.

 

“Thankfully, the ankle injury that he had a recurrence of last week hasn’t been too serious, so he’s going to be a judgment call tomorrow,” said McKenna.

 

Meanwhile, the Blues boss said that forward Conor Chaplin, who has been sidelined for the whole of 2025, remains out of action.

 

“He’s had a few little setbacks,” said McKenna. “With an MCL injury you can get that. You can get to the very, very last bit of your rehab, but there’s a few actions or a few movements that can sometimes still stir it up.

 

“He’s had a slightly different course of treatment this week to see if that can accelerate it a little bit because he’s not quite been able to meet that last hurdle. Fingers crossed he’ll be back with the group next week.”

 

 

On whether deadline signing Alex Palmer will make his league debut in goal for the Blues, McKenna said: “Yes, it’s a possibility. He gives us the type of options that we want. We’ll pick what we think is right for each game.”

 

Christian Walton (groin), Wes Burns (knee) and Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles) remain long-term absentees.

 

 

Sammie Szmodics could feature in Town’s game at Aston Villa this weekend.

Sammie Szmodics could feature in Town’s game at Aston Villa this weekend.

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has revealed that Sammie Szmodics could be fit for Saturday’s Premier League match at Aston Villa.

 

The four-goal forward limped off 35 minutes into last weekend’s 4-1 FA Cup win at Coventry after suffering a recurrence of the ankle problem that had sidelined him for the previous five matches.

 

“Thankfully, the ankle injury that he had a recurrence of last week hasn’t been too serious, so he’s going to be a judgment call tomorrow,” said McKenna.

 

Meanwhile, the Blues boss said that forward Conor Chaplin, who has been sidelined for the whole of 2025, remains out of action.

 

“He’s had a few little setbacks,” said McKenna. “With an MCL injury you can get that. You can get to the very, very last bit of your rehab, but there’s a few actions or a few movements that can sometimes still stir it up.

 

“He’s had a slightly different course of treatment this week to see if that can accelerate it a little bit because he’s not quite been able to meet that last hurdle. Fingers crossed he’ll be back with the group next week.”

 

 

On whether deadline signing Alex Palmer will make his league debut in goal for the Blues, McKenna said: “Yes, it’s a possibility. He gives us the type of options that we want. We’ll pick what we think is right for each game.”

 

Christian Walton (groin), Wes Burns (knee) and Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles) remain long-term absentees.

 

 

Sammie Szmodics could feature in Town’s game at Aston Villa this weekend. <i>(Image: PA)</i>

Sammie Szmodics could feature in Town’s game at Aston Villa this weekend. (Image: PA)

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has revealed that Sammie Szmodics could be fit for Saturday’s Premier League match at Aston Villa.

 

The four-goal forward limped off 35 minutes into last weekend’s 4-1 FA Cup win at Coventry after suffering a recurrence of the ankle problem that had sidelined him for the previous five matches.

 

“Thankfully, the ankle injury that he had a recurrence of last week hasn’t been too serious, so he’s going to be a judgment call tomorrow,” said McKenna.

 

Meanwhile, the Blues boss said that forward Conor Chaplin, who has been sidelined for the whole of 2025, remains out of action.

 

“He’s had a few little setbacks,” said McKenna. “With an MCL injury you can get that. You can get to the very, very last bit of your rehab, but there’s a few actions or a few movements that can sometimes still stir it up.

 

“He’s had a slightly different course of treatment this week to see if that can accelerate it a little bit because he’s not quite been able to meet that last hurdle. Fingers crossed he’ll be back with the group next week.”

 

 

On whether deadline signing Alex Palmer will make his league debut in goal for the Blues, McKenna said: “Yes, it’s a possibility. He gives us the type of options that we want. We’ll pick what we think is right for each game.”

 

Christian Walton (groin), Wes Burns (knee) and Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles) remain long-term absentees.

 

 

Sammie Szmodics could feature in Town’s game at Aston Villa this weekend.

Sammie Szmodics could feature in Town’s game at Aston Villa this weekend.

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has revealed that Sammie Szmodics could be fit for Saturday’s Premier League match at Aston Villa.

 

The four-goal forward limped off 35 minutes into last weekend’s 4-1 FA Cup win at Coventry after suffering a recurrence of the ankle problem that had sidelined him for the previous five matches.

 

“Thankfully, the ankle injury that he had a recurrence of last week hasn’t been too serious, so he’s going to be a judgment call tomorrow,” said McKenna.

 

Meanwhile, the Blues boss said that forward Conor Chaplin, who has been sidelined for the whole of 2025, remains out of action.

 

“He’s had a few little setbacks,” said McKenna. “With an MCL injury you can get that. You can get to the very, very last bit of your rehab, but there’s a few actions or a few movements that can sometimes still stir it up.

 

“He’s had a slightly different course of treatment this week to see if that can accelerate it a little bit because he’s not quite been able to meet that last hurdle. Fingers crossed he’ll be back with the group next week.”

 

 

On whether deadline signing Alex Palmer will make his league debut in goal for the Blues, McKenna said: “Yes, it’s a possibility. He gives us the type of options that we want. We’ll pick what we think is right for each game.”

 

Christian Walton (groin), Wes Burns (knee) and Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles) remain long-term absentees.

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The January transfer window has slammed shut and all eyes are on the final 14 games of the Premier League season. Ipswich Town will look to climb out of the bottom three, but face stiff competition from their relegation rivals. Alex Jones assesses the state of play.