Ipswich Town head into Sunday’s massive Championship showdown against Middlesbrough with a welcome boost in the form of improving injury news, as Kieran McKenna confirmed several key players are edging closer to full availability at the perfect moment in the promotion race.
The Tractor Boys suffered a frustrating setback in midweek after a defeat to Portsmouth, a result that briefly stalled their momentum in the automatic promotion battle. With just a handful of matches left, every point now carries huge significance, especially with Middlesbrough and Southampton both still firmly in the hunt for a top-two finish. That context makes McKenna’s latest squad update even more important ahead of a defining clash at Portman Road.
One of the biggest positives for Ipswich is the situation surrounding Azor Matusiwa. The midfielder, who picked up a dead leg in the win over Birmingham City, was clearly not at full fitness during the Portsmouth defeat and was withdrawn after just under an hour. However, McKenna delivered encouraging news, confirming the issue is improving daily and that the midfielder is expected to be available for selection.
“He’s in a better place,” McKenna explained. “Day by day it’s getting better, so hopefully he’ll be available for the squad.”
That update will be a relief for Ipswich supporters, given Matusiwa’s importance in the midfield engine room during the promotion push. His presence could prove crucial in controlling the tempo against a physically strong Middlesbrough side.
There was also positive news regarding Leif Davis, who missed the midweek fixture due to the birth of his child. The left-back has already returned to training and is expected to be back in the matchday squad for Sunday’s encounter. McKenna admitted Davis may not be at peak sharpness after a disrupted few weeks, but believes the defender will benefit from being “fresh” heading into a busy run-in.
“He’s trained with us for the last few days,” McKenna said. “We’re delighted to have him back in the squad now for Sunday.”
However, not all the injury updates were positive. Wes Burns remains sidelined after suffering a setback in his recovery from a calf issue sustained earlier in the month. McKenna confirmed the winger is still some distance away from returning, though he remains hopeful of seeing him back before the end of the season.
“He’s had a little setback in his recovery,” McKenna admitted. “It’s nothing major, but he hasn’t been able to make that final step yet.”
Despite Burns’ absence, Ipswich still appear to be in a stronger position than many of their promotion rivals, with McKenna stressing that squad depth will be vital during the final stretch of the campaign.
The timing of these updates could hardly be better. Middlesbrough arrive at Portman Road knowing a victory would drag them level with Ipswich in the automatic promotion race, while defeat could leave their top-two hopes hanging by a thread. With Boro also dealing with uncertainty around key players of their own, Ipswich will feel this is an opportunity they must take advantage of.
McKenna’s side know the stakes are simple: win, and they strengthen their grip on a Premier League return; slip up, and the race for promotion becomes significantly tighter heading into the final weeks.
With key players returning and confidence still high despite the Portsmouth setback, Ipswich will believe Sunday is the perfect chance to reassert control of their promotion destiny.
