Ipswich Town captain Dara O’Shea has singled out teammate Ben Johnson for special praise following his impressive performances in recent weeks, highlighting the defender’s attitude and versatility as key assets in the club’s promotion push.
Johnson has endured a challenging season in terms of game time, struggling to break into the starting lineup for much of the campaign. Between late August and early March, he managed just one Championship start and was even left out of matchday squads on several occasions.
However, an opportunity arose when Leif Davis served a suspension, opening the door for Johnson to step in at left-back. Since then, he has made the most of his chance, starting four consecutive matches and delivering consistently strong performances.
His adaptability has also stood out. Despite Davis returning to the side, Johnson retained his place in the starting XI and was deployed further forward on the right wing—a role he embraced, even finding the net in Ipswich’s win over Birmingham City.
O’Shea believes Johnson’s mindset has been exemplary, especially given the limited opportunities he has had earlier in the season.
“He’s unbelievable at what he does,” O’Shea said. “For someone who hasn’t played as much as he would have liked, he’s been ever-present in training, always pushing standards and wanting to do well.”
The Ipswich captain emphasized that Johnson could easily have let frustration affect his attitude, but instead chose to remain professional and committed to the team.
“He could have sulked and let it impact the group, but he hasn’t. That’s a credit to him,” O’Shea added. “Going from left-back to right wing isn’t something many players can do, and it says a lot about his quality and character.”
Ipswich’s recent success has put them firmly in the race for automatic promotion. Their victory over Norwich City in the East Anglian derby—ending a long wait for a win at Carrow Road—has strengthened their position near the top of the table.
With rivals dropping points over the weekend, Ipswich now have a clear path to promotion. The team requires a maximum of 11 points from their remaining six games to secure a return to the Premier League.
Despite the favorable position, O’Shea insists the focus remains on taking each game as it comes rather than getting distracted by the table.
“If we win every game, we’ll get promoted—that’s the main thing,” he said. “It’s about focusing on ourselves and putting in performances we can be proud of.”
The final stretch of the season promises to be demanding, with a packed schedule that includes several away fixtures. Ipswich face a crucial run of matches, starting with a trip to Portsmouth before a key clash against Middlesbrough.
O’Shea acknowledged the intensity of the run-in but expressed confidence in the squad’s depth and resilience.
“To get promoted, you’ve got to handle moments like this,” he said. “We’ve got a strong, competitive squad where everyone will have a part to play.”
With momentum building and belief growing within the camp, Ipswich appear well-positioned to achieve their goal. And if players like Johnson continue to step up when called upon, their promotion dream could soon become a reality.
