Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has revealed the summer conversation that led to Omari Hutchinson scoring the crucial goal in tonight's 1-0 win at Southampton tonight.

The 19-year-old Chelsea loanee - making his first ever start in senior football - slid in to dispossess Shea Charles before firing in off the post in the 30th minute.

That proved enough for the newly-promoted Blues to make it six wins from seven at the start of the season and return to second in the Championship table.

“It was a great goal for Omari’s development," said McKenna. 

"I’ve just been joking with him down there. From where he started a couple of months ago, to scoring his first professional goal from a sliding tackle... I don’t think he would have believed that could be part of his repertoire. 

“It’s a great indication of the progress he’s been making and the standards and discipline he’s learning here. Alongside the goal his all-round defensive performance was excellent. Of course he showed his quality and bravery on the ball as well."

Asked if he'd spoken to the skilful winger about doing the ugly side of the game, McKenna smiled and replied: “Yeah, really clearly! He will attest to that! Part of the reason we spoke about that is because I think his capacity to do it is incredible.

"This probably surprised him, but when I met him over the summer I showed him some video and told him that I think he can be absolutely outstanding out of possession. He’s got the endurance to do it, he’s got the speed, he’s got the agility to move his feet. I think he can be top, top, top class out of possession.  

“I said to him if he doesn’t utilise that part of the game, if he doesn’t come here and develop that part of is game, it would be waste of talent because there are not many wingers who have got the ability to do that side of the game naturally as well as he does."

Reflecting on a fourth straight win on the road, the Blues boss said: “We need to enjoy nights like tonight. For us to come here as a newly-promoted team, against a team who have just come down from the Premier League, and perform how we did, show the quality that we did and show the resilience that we did to get a result like that – we need to enjoy these nights as whole club, supporters, players, everyone involved."