Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna says he may have to rotate his starting XI for tomorrow night's match at Watford.

The Blues remain hot-on-the-heels of Championship leaders Leicester after Saturday's impressive 2-0 win at Middlesbrough.

Now, after a long trip back from the North East, they are on the road again to face an in-form Watford side that sit 10th after losing just one of their last 10 games.

With huge matches against Norwich (home on Saturday), Leeds (away on Dec 23) and Leicester (home on Boxing Day) to quickly follow, McKenna is carefully considering how to utilise his squad.

Brandon Williams and Massimo Luongo are available again after serving one-game bans at the Riverside, while there's a decision to make on skipper Sam Morsy as he is now just one booking away from a two-game suspension.

SIGN-UP! Get three months of all our Town coverage for just £3!

"It was a really big shift on Saturday at Middlesbrough," said McKenna. “We do have a few niggles and issues that will need to be assessed, but we have a healthy squad and no doubt the energy levels will be there for another really good game.

“This is the third time we have gone Saturday-Tuesday away from home this season (Sheffield Wednesday/Southampton in September and Birmingham/Rotherham in November) and the prep is tough. Middlesbrough then Watford are two big challenges and it’s not easy, but it's also something to embrace.

“The squad is going to be really important. It might mean rotating the starting XI or the impact of substitutes becomes even more important."

East Anglian Daily Times: Kieran McKenna has praised Dominic Ball for his late cameo display at Middlesbrough.Kieran McKenna has praised Dominic Ball for his late cameo display at Middlesbrough. (Image: Ross Halls)

The Blues boss then picked out a surprise player for praise ahead of a crucial run of fixtures, highlighting Dominic Ball's nine-minute cameo at the Riverside - the experienced midfielder having been restricted to four cup starts and five league sub appearances so far this campaign.  

"On Saturday, obviously Omari (Hutchinson) scored the goal, but you can’t underestimate the impact of someone like Dom Ball. He came on late in the game, probably had six things to do and did them all to near perfection. He made a big tackle, won a free-kick, completed a good pass and stopped a counter-attack. Being ready for those big interventions is massive.

“This is a month where we won’t start the same XI in every game and, on top of that, it’s about having the subs who can come on and impact the game in the way the team requires.

“We have a fully engaged group, all buying into everything and enjoying the journey together, while rightfully taking pride whenever we get a good result and sticking together when we don’t.”

On Watford, who scored a last-gasp equaliser to draw 1-1 with Southampton at Vicarage Road on Saturday, McKenna added: "They are the second or third strongest home team, not just in terms of results but also the underlying numbers, while they have only lost one in the last 10, which came at Leicester.

“They are in strong form and are a strong team so it will be a big challenge for us, just like Middlesbrough was, so they will have the absolute respect they deserve.  

“We know we will have to be at a really high level physically, mentally and technically and that’s what we will go and try to achieve.”