Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has confirmed that Kyle Edwards will be allowed to leave the club this summer.

The 25-year-old made 30 appearances in League One last season, although most of them came off the bench.

He played fairly regularly in pre-season too, but he was left out of the squad for Town's Championship opener against Sunderland and their Carabao Cup first-round tie against Bristol Rovers.

McKenna admitted that the decision was made following discussions between himself and Edwards, with the conclusion that a departure from Portman Road would be the most suitable outcome for his career.

“Kyle’s someone we had conversations with at the end of last season,” he said. “We both agreed that he’s at the stage of his career where he wants to go and start more games and he needs to become a more regular starter.

“He’s been an important player for us, particularly as an impact player. He had a really big role last year, but he wants to go out and start more games and build his career. He’s at the stage where he wants to do that.

“Those conversations started at the back end of last season, so we’ve discussed the options for a loan move or a permanent transfer. He’s had some interest but nothing that’s been right for him yet.

“He’s been training with the group and had a really good pre-season. He’s available for the games and for the squad.

“With the Carabao Cup, to be honest, it was a decision made to help Kyle. What we don’t want to do is tie him for the season for the sake of an appearance in that competition, because you can only play for two clubs over the course of the season.

“If he was to play some minutes the other night, it would possibly limit him with loan moves this window, or maybe a permanent move in this window or the next one.

“We made that decision with him and had that discussion with him that, for the Carabao Cup game, it’d be better that he keeps his eligibility until the end of the window. After that, we’ll see.

“He’s here, he’s training well with the group and he’s an asset to us. If he stays here, he’ll be with the group. If he has an opportunity to go and play, which is what he wishes to do, then that’s something that we’ll look at as it comes in.”

McKenna also revealed that the club are considering loan departures for Elkan Baggott and Cameron Humphreys, having received interest in the latter earlier in the summer transfer window.