McKenna signs a “incredible” successor for Hirst in the fantasy of Ipswich Town Xi following January: viewpoint

When Suffolk Town defeated Sunderland 2-1 last weekend, sending a message to the rest of the Championship that the Tractor Boys are here to stay in the automatic promotion spots, Kieran McKenna would have been the happiest man inside Portman Road.

However, it was just the Suffolk team’s first victory in their previous five second-tier games, so McKenna may look to bolster his flagging promotion hopes during the January transfer window.

Due to a catastrophic injury that will keep star scorer George Hirst out for some time, the Tractor Boys will need to acquire more players up top to fend off teams like Leeds United and Southampton who could overtake them for second place.

So, after January, here’s what Ipswich’s ideal lineup may look like, with two more players perhaps coming in through the door at Portman Road.

1GK – Vaclav Hladky

For the remainder of the season, McKenna will stay with Vaclav Hladky, a dependable Czech goalkeeper, in the hopes that the 33-year-old can continue to step up big in crucial moments to make saves, as he did on New Year’s Day against Stoke City.

Even on days when the rest of the team is having a collective off-day, Ipswich can count on their reliable number 31 to keep a clean sheet and get the job done. Hladky would make four crucial saves against the Potters to ensure the lackluster visitors at least returned to Suffolk with a point.

2RB – Harry Clarke

Despite the temptation of the transfer window to bring in an upgrade, McKenna will also keep Harry Clarke in the starting lineup. The second-string player for Ipswich was strong throughout the thrilling Sunderland victory.

After finishing all six of his dribbles and winning seven of his ten duels at Portman Road, Clarke will be a player the Ipswich manager will want around when things get tough in the upcoming crucial months.

3CB – Luke Woolfenden

This season, Luke Woolfenden has also established himself as a formidable force in the back four for Ipswich, particularly during the goalless draw away at Stoke.

Woolfenden’s composure on the ball when playing out from the back is crucial to how Ipswich function, and he won’t be benched despite finishing the draw with a 92% passing accuracy.

4CB – Charlie Hughes

Charlie Hughes, a center-back for Wigan Athletic, may be the first new recruit through the door. Hughes’s League One performances call for a significant move up to the Championship.

The 20-year-old would fit in well at Portman Road as an adept ball-playing defender—averaging 51 successful passes per game this season—with Ipswich allegedly interested on signing the breakout Latics star this January.

When the Championship season gets closer, McKenna will have to make difficult decisions on Cameron Burgess’ starting position in favor of the young defense.

5LB – Leif Davis

Leif Davis is in no danger of losing his secure first-team spot, however, regardless of other possible outgoings and incomings in defence.

The former Leeds United left-back was back to his dangerous best going forward against the Black Cats, picking up his 12th assist already of the campaign when teeing up Conor Chaplin for the game-clinching goal.

6CM – Sam Morsy

Not featuring last match against Sunderland, McKenna preferring to start new January recruit Lewis Travis ahead of his star Egyptian midfielder, Sam Morsy will more than likely come back into the side when games are balanced on a knife edge towards the tail-end of the season.

Wearing the captain’s armband for Ipswich this season, the experienced 32-year-old has been pivotal in steering the Tractor Boys to big wins off his own back – scoring the winning goal away at Watford in December to overcome the Hornets 2-1 at Vicarage Road.

7CM – Massimo Luongo

Likewise, Massimo Luongo was absent from the Sunderland game last weekend but should come back into the first-team fold as another seasoned head who could lead by example in huge promotion-deciding games to come.

Scoring two goals and contributing further with a single assist when featuring this campaign to date, McKenna will know he can call upon his dependable holding midfielder when required.

8RM – Wes Burns

Wes Burns ought to be kept on the right wing, even though the recent signing of Jeremy Sarmiento down the flanks at Portman Road has thrown a wrench into McKenna’s plans for his attacking lineup.

Having scored three goals this season while combining with quick Ipswich breaks forward, including one mid-December against bitter rivals Norwich City, the Welshman will be hoping to add more vital goals along route to promotion triumph.

9CAM – Conor Chaplin

Despite the tremendous burden on his shoulders, 26-year-old Conor Chaplin will want to keep being the hero for Ipswich in their possible promotion tale. He wore the captain’s armband against Sunderland and scored goals.

With that goal against Michael Beale’s Black Cats bringing him to nine goals for the season, the former Portsmouth player will be looking to reach double figures shortly as his team continues to produce strong results to gain some breathing room from Southampton and Leeds United, who are right behind them.

10LM – Nathan Broadhead

For McKenna’s promotion-seeking Ipswich team, Nathan Broadhead’s abilities have waned recently (he hasn’t scored in his previous four games under the former Manchester United coach), but despite this decline in performance, he won’t be benched or fired entirely.

Like his attacking colleague Chaplin, the ten-time senior Wales international will be itching to contribute to Ipswich’s promotion to the Premier League, whether that means getting his hands dirty or scoring the game-winning goal that allows the Tractor Boys to pull off the incredible and advance up a division once more.

11ST – Jay Stansfield

Although stand-in player Kayden Jackson scored on his return to the starting lineup against Sunderland, George Hirst’s injury concerns have been plaguing the Tractor Boys recently. Therefore, Ipswich’s main goal this transfer window is to bolster their striker options so they don’t have to rely on the fringe striker every week.

Recently, Jay Stansfield’s name has been connected to a move to Suffolk. The Birmingham City loanee has been dazzling the second division with his attacking displays this season, scoring seven goals in the Championship so far. Tony Mowbray, the new manager, is eager to keep the Blues attacker at St Andrew’s past this transfer window.

Even during Wayne Rooney’s turbulent tenure as manager, Stansfield managed to score goals; Birmingham supporter Mike Gibbs described him as “absolutely incredible” after he scored two goals in his first two games in his new surroundings.

In order to resolve his unnerving selection quandary up top, McKenna will be hoping that Stansfield can start the second half of the season at Portman Road with a similarly explosive start.

GET MORE NEWS HERE