Ipswich Town head into the crucial winter period with reduced numbers. STUART WATSON analyses current squad depth.
KEEPER
No real issues here. Undisputed number one CHRISTIAN WALTON remains backed up by VACLAV HLADKY.
Former Oldham, Huddersfield and Rochdale man JOEL COLEMAN was recently signed on a short-term deal to act as cover for injured third-choice custodian Nick Hayes.
RIGHT-BACK
Many people still refer to it as a 3-4-2-1 system, but to my eye Town fully transitioned to a 4-2-3-1 quite some time ago. So I’m going to break down the defence as a back four.
JANOI DONACIEN is the only outfield player to have started all 19 league games for Town this season. Having picked up a unspecified ‘knock’ in the win at Exeter almost a fortnight ago, he’s just been rested for cup games against Portsmouth and Buxton.
KANE VINCENT-YOUNG is a strong back-up option. He’s more dynamic going forwards, but less reliable defensively.
Can the 26-year-old stay fit after a torrid spell of repeated injury set-backs? And might his versatility be needed to plug other holes in the team?
With the above question marks in mind, homegrown EDWIN AGBAJE waits in the wings. The powerful 19-year-old, who played a big role in Town’s run to the FA Youth Cup semi-finals in 2021, didn’t look out of place on his debut at Cambridge United in the Papa John’s Trophy.
Competitive minutes this season: Donacien (1740), Vincent-Young (882), Agbaje (89).
CENTRE-BACKS
This is the one outfield area of the squad where Ipswich are in rude health.
CAMERON BURGESS’ super swift recovery from multiple facial fractures means Kieran McKenna once again has four players vying for two positions.
LULE WOOLFENDEN, GEORGE EDMUNDSON and RICHARD KEOGH are the other three.
That’s a strong quartet at this level. There’s a real good balance of characters, age and styles there.
Competitive minutes this season: Woolfenden (1758), Edmundson (1576), Burgess (810), Keogh (632).
LEFT-BACK
LEIF DAVIS has shown exactly why Town paid a seven-figure fee for his services, powering up and down the left to bring a much-needed balance to the side.
I do have a slight fear that things may catch up with the 22-year-old at some stage though. A bit part player at Leeds and Bournemouth, it must be remembered that this is his first season of week-in, week-out men’s football.
He limped off at Exeter two weeks ago holding his hamstring and, after being rested against Portsmouth in the Papa John’s Trophy, was given 45 minutes against Buxton last weekend.
Hopefully he can keep churning the games out with no problems because his very capable understudy, Greg Leigh, has suffered a set-back in his recovery from a leg fracture.
The aforementioned VINCENT-YOUNG, who played a lot of football at left-back for previous club Colchester, would be next in line.
Competitive minutes this season: Davis (1533), Vincent-Young (882).
CENTRE-MIDFIELD
Town have seven senior central midfielders on the books, but just two of them are currently available.
Dominic Ball (knee) is out for the season, Lee Evans (knee) isn’t due back until Christmas, while it’s unclear how long Panutche Camara (groin) will be sidelined following a recovery set-back.
With Idris El Mizouni and Rekeem Harper on loan at Leyton Orient and Exeter City respectively, that leaves just skipper SAM MORSY and talented teenager CAMERON HUMPHREYS.
Morsy is one of the best midfielders in the division, while Humphreys, who recently turned 19, thankfully looks ready for this sink or swim introduction to men’s football.
Town still have a strong central duo, but are now lacking options for rotation and cover. And chances are they will need that at some stage in the near future.
Morsy has proved robust throughout his career, but a suspension is never far away for him. Having already served a one-match ban for receiving five yellow cards, he is now three more (league) bookings away from having to serve a two-game (league) ban.
TAWANDA CHIREWA and ZANDA SIZIBA (both 19) have impressed for the Under-21s and not looked out of place when featuring in cup games. Pairing either of them with Humphreys in a League One game would be a big risk though.
The alternative is to play a senior player out of position. Luke Woolfenden was trialled there in the latter stages against Buxton.
Competitive minutes this season: Morsy (1848), Humphreys (840), Chirewa (134), Siziba (114).
WINGERS
Even though WES BURNS’ form hasn’t quite hit the same heights of an impressive debut campaign, the Welshman remains a star man in this side.
He was able to manage a nagging Achilles issue throughout 2020/21 and recover from plenty of rough treatment. Hopefully that is the case again. McKenna insists the direct-running right-sider was ‘fine’ after taking a kick to the ankle against Buxton.
KYLE EDWARDS had been backing Burns up, McKenna having said he prefers the tricky attacker on the right, but he now looks needed tucked in off the left due to the fact that Marcus Harness (knee) and Tyreece John-Jules (hamstring) are set to be out for the remainder of 2022 at the very least.
Town fans will be looking forward to see what the ever-smiling trickster can produce. There have been some encouraging signs this season that the 24-year-old has got his mojo back.
KAYDEN JACKSON is another wide option in attack. We’ve seen his pace deployed on both flanks at different stages of this season.
The versatile VINCENT-YOUNG is also capable of playing in a more advanced wide role too, so there are currently still four senior options for ‘wide’ roles in a 4-2-3-1.
Competitive minutes this season: Burns (1461), Edwards (802), Jackson (1053), Vincent-Young (882).
SUPPORT STRIKER
With Sone Aluko (knee, out until Christmas) and John-Jules sidelined, CONOR CHAPLIN is the last man standing when it comes to out-and-out central support strikers.
Town could do with the 26-year-old going on another purple patch of goalsoring form after he ended a 12-game drought with a brace against Buxton.
This is the role CHIREWA has been prolific in for the U21s.
Competitive minutes this season: Chaplin (1428), Chirewa (134).
CENTRAL STRIKER
McKenna regularly rotated Freddie Ladapo, John-Jules and Jackson as the starting central striker earlier in the season. It was horses for courses.
But with John-Jules now injured and Jackson needed as part of the wide attacking unit, it looks like LADAPO could finally be set for a run of starts.
The former Rotherham man will be relishing a chance to be the main man. Now up to speed with the team’s patterns of play, his confidence should be high after bagging five goals in his last five games.
GASSAN AHADME, who has just recovered from a fractured foot, is a different option. The physical and mobile 22-year-old scored on his full debut against Buxton and is determined to make a name for himself at Portman Road.
His return to action has come at just the right time.
Competitive minutes this season: Ladapo (1277), Ahadme (112*)
* For Ipswich, plus 539 for Burton.
VERDICT
Ipswich Town now have 15 fit ‘first team’ outfielders and five of them – Ahadme (0), Keogh (1), Vincent-Young (1), Edwards (2) and Humphreys (3) - have made just a handful of league starts between them this season.
It seems a long time ago now that we were talking about the Blues having at least two senior players for every position and how they would be able to use the five-sub rule to overpower opponents.
Town can still line-up with the following though: Walton; Donacien/Vincent-Young, Woolfenden/Keogh, Burgess/Edmundson, Davis; Morsy, Humphreys; Burns, Chaplin, Edwards/Jackson; Ladapo/Ahadme.
That’s a very strong team at this level.
Let’s just hope that this tight group, with a bit of support from one or two talented and eager academy youngsters, can navigate the next few weeks.
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