Ipswich Town: McKenna monitoring 'thriving' Idris El Mizouni

The 22-year-old has scored one goal in 15 starts four sub appearances for a Leyton Orient side that currently sits five points clear at the top of the League Two table. 

That's more outings than he managed in his previous two loan spells at Grimsby and Cambridge United combined.

It raises the prospect of the Paris-born, one-cap Tunisia international being recalled to Portman Road in January given that Lee Evans (knee, out until Christmas), Dominic Ball (knee, out for the season) and Panutche Camara (ongoing groin issue) are all currently sidelined.

Leyton Orient fans celebrate with Idris El Mizouni. (Image: PA)

“It was really important for him to go and get games after a couple of seasons of not playing too much," said McKenna.

“I don’t think his last couple of loan moves had worked out quite as he wanted for different reasons. 

“So it was really important at this stage of his career to go and get a proper run in central midfield. 

“It’s good to see that he’s thriving." 

Youngsters Zanda Siziba, Tawanda Chirewa and Fraser Alexander have had midfield minutes in the cups this season, while defender Luke Woolfenden was trialled as a makeshift midfielder during the latter stages of Sunday's 4-0 FA Cup win against Buxton.

Rekeem Harper is also out on loan, at fellow League One club Exeter City, but has found himself out of the team under new manager Gary Caldwell.