Kieran McKenna has provided an important fitness update on his squad ahead of Ipswich Town’s crucial top-of-the-table showdown with Middlesbrough, with mixed news on several key players.
The Town boss confirmed that Azor Matusiwa is making steady progress, Leif Davis has returned to training, but Wes Burns will once again miss out due to injury.
Matusiwa improving after recent setback
Matusiwa has been dealing with a dead leg sustained in the recent win over Birmingham City, an issue that forced him off during the defeat to Portsmouth earlier this week.
However, McKenna revealed the midfielder is now recovering well and could still be in contention for the weekend.
“I think he’s in a better place,” McKenna said. “Day by day it’s getting better, so he’s in a better place now than he was a week ago. He’ll hopefully be available for the squad.”
Burns ruled out again
There was less positive news regarding Wes Burns, who continues to struggle with a calf problem picked up over a month ago.
While not far from a return, the Welsh winger has suffered a minor setback that will keep him sidelined for the Middlesbrough clash.
“He’s not too far away,” McKenna explained. “But the last little hurdle is tricky. He’s had a small setback — nothing major — but he’s not quite ready yet.
“He won’t make it back to training with the group tomorrow, which rules him out for Sunday.”
Davis returns after absence
In a boost for Ipswich, Leif Davis is back in training after missing the trip to Portsmouth following the birth of his first child.
The left-back, a key figure for the team, has already rejoined the squad and is expected to be available.
“He’s been training with us for the last few days,” McKenna said. “A little bit more tired as most new fathers are, but he’s back with the group.”
Davis has had a disrupted spell recently, having only just returned from suspension prior to his absence, but McKenna is confident he will play an important role in the upcoming fixtures.
“He hasn’t had as many minutes in the last six weeks as you’d want, but that also means he should be fresh. We’re going to need a big output from him.”
Squad in strong shape overall
Aside from Burns and long-term absentee Conor Townsend, McKenna confirmed there are no new injury concerns, with the rest of the squad fit and ready for selection.
With promotion stakes high and little margin for error at the top of the table, Ipswich head into the Middlesbrough clash with cautious optimism — boosted by returning players but still managing key absences at a critical stage of the season.
