Ipswich Town: A look back on Lee Evans' time at ITFC

Lee Evans joined Ipswich Town on a free transfer from Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2021. (Image: ITFC)

PART OF THE REBUILD

Evans was the second of Paul Cook's 19 signings in the 'Demolition Man' summer of 2021. 

The experienced ex-Newport, Wolves and Sheffield United midfielder joined on a free transfer from Wigan, signing a three-year deal to be reunited with his former boss.

"This is a huge football club and it’s a massive honour to be here," said the Welshman. "There is only one aim and that is to get promoted."

“Lee has got everything a midfielder needs,” Cook enthused. “His energy levels are great, he covers the distances that midfielders need to in the game now, he’s good on the ball and he has the physicality.

“He’s got a terrific attitude to the game and what’s most important, he’s a great lad. I’m thrilled we have got him here.”

Evans wore the captain's armband during the difficult opening few weeks of the season before eventually passing it onto late summer signing Sam Morsy.

"Lee was never brought in to be captain, but was probably the best candidate around at that time," said Cook. "It was a little bit of a heavy weight on his shoulders, shall we say."

Lee Evans scored a memorable hat-trick for Ipswich Town in a 6-0 home thrashing of Doncaster Rovers. (Image: Steve Waller)

THAT HAT-TRICK

Town's new-look side, understandably, took some time to gel. Then, on a Tuesday night in late September, the first home win of the season was secured in style.

The Blues thrashed Doncaster Rovers 6-0 under the Portman Road lights. Evans, a deep-lying playmaker, was an unlikely hat-trick hero.

His first was a back post finish after a corner had been glanced on. His second was a well-directed headed finish from a Bersant Celina cross (Evans' powerful headed clearance up field having started the move). The third was a first-time, side-footed finish into the near top corner following Burns' lay-off in the box.

The Welshman celebrated with a perfectly executed knee slide in front of the North Stand. He then turned provider, his teasing free-kick delivery from the left finished by George Edmundson to complete the rout.

“This means a lot to me," he said afterwards. "I normally score long-range goals so to score a header and goals at the back stick is something a bit different.

“To be fair, my little girl told me I was going to score tonight so it was a really nice feeling to get some."

He added: “I haven’t shown Ipswich Town fans what I’m about, really, so hopefully this can be a step in the right direction for me.”

Lee Evans was a key player in the first half of Ipswich Town's League One promotion campaign. (Image: Ross Halls)

KEY UNDER KIERAN

It was under Kieran McKenna's management that Evans really began to thrive.

His physicality and reading of the game allowed Town to win the ball back deep (and freed up Sam Morsy to get forwards more). His superb range of passing allowed the Blues to find overloads in attack.

In the opening three months of the 2022/23 campaign, Evans was arguably the team's most consistent performer as foundations were laid for a League One promotion push.

He scored in the opening day 1-1 home draw with Bolton, played a vital role in helping the team see out a 2-1 win at Forest Green, provided a corner assist in a 2-0 win at Accrington, bagged a fine goal from outside the box to seal a 2-0 home win against Bristol Rovers and netted a pressure penalty winner at Morecambe.

None of that should be forgotten.

Lee Evans suffered four knee injury set-backs in the space of two years. (Image: Pagepix)

THE INJURIES

Sadly, knee injuries were the story of Evans' time at Town.

The first of them was suffered in the latter stages of a 3-0 home win against Burton in February 2022. 

"It's a blow for us," admitted McKenna, who liked what he'd seen of the midfielder soon after taking charge. "I thought his performance on Saturday was outstanding."

That problem, thought to be 'nothing majorly serious' at the time, ended up finishing his campaign. The likes of Tom Carroll and Tyreeq Bakinson never really filled the void.

The second set-back, after that aforementioned impressive start to last season, came in a 1-0 Friday night home win against Derby on October 21, 2022.

“He’s got some damage to his medial ligament, not so serious that it will need surgery,” said McKenna. “It’s a blow because he’s a very important player for us having a good season. He contributes on and off the ball and on set plays."

After Cameron Humphreys and Dominic Ball stepped in for a spell, Evans returned to the starting XI in the Boxing Day 3-0 home win against Oxford United.

"Last week at Wycombe, after only a couple of training sessions, was probably a little bit early for me but the manager asked if I could play and I said yes (coming on as a second half sub)," he revealed.  

“I just wanted to get back out there and play. I knew I wouldn't be anywhere near 100% but the manager showed that faith in me that he still wanted me to go out there. Anytime I get asked to play for this football club I'll always say yes."

Nine games later though and he got injured again in a 1-1 draw at Cambridge.

“It’s a different injury in the other knee to the one he had earlier in the season,” said McKenna. "The estimation is eight to 10 weeks before he can return.  

"Any team in this league would miss Lee Evans for the periods of time we’ve missed him.” 

Once more, Evans didn't play again for the remainder of the season. In his absence this time, January signing Massimo Luongo took up the midfield mantle and helped drive Ipswich to automatic promotion.

Luongo subsequently got a contract extension. Town also went and spent £1.5m on midfielder Jack Taylor ahead of life back in the Championship.

Evans, having returned to action in pre-season, was restricted to three League Cup starts in the early stages of this campaign. Then, cruelly, his long-awaited first league start of the season, the 1-1 draw at Huddersfield in late September, was cut short by yet another knee injury. This time he underwent surgery.

Lee Evans (right) and Sam Morsy with the Innsbruck Cup, won back in pre-season over in Austria. (Image: Ross Halls)

THE RELEASE

Town's recent January transfer business saw them needing to cut one senior player to stay within the league's 25-man squad rules.

Evans, still 'a month or so' away from being fit, was the obvious candidate. There was no way they could work on reintegrating him just as a Championship promotion push was hotting up.

The Blues could have simply deregistered Evans and continued paying him in full before a summer release at the end of his contract.

Instead, they negotiated an early buy-out of his contract. That saves the club some money (important with FFP) and allows Evans the chance to sign for someone as a free agent and get himself back up to speed before the season ends. 

A number of top League One clubs, maybe even lower end Championship ones, should be vying for the signature of a talented player and top pro who's still only 29. 

The Blues will, of course, continue to help with his rehab up until that point.

Lee Evans issued a classy statement after reaching an agreement with the club to terminate his contract. (Image: Steve Waller)

WHAT WAS SAID

“My time at Ipswich Town has sadly come to an end and it’s been a journey that’ll live with my forever," said Evans, in a classy statement on social media.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their kind messages and well wishes over these past couple of hours, it’s been overwhelming.

“It’s been a great honour to play and even captain this great football club. Being able to play my part in our promotion back to the Championship last year will be something I’ll look back on with so much pride.

“I wish nothing but success for the boss, the coaching staff, everyone at the club and, of course, the boys on their pursuit of back-to-back promotions. Thanks for the memories.”

McKenna said: "If you look at Lee’s form in the period after I arrived and you look at the progression of the other players who are still here, the likes of Samy Morsy, Conor Chaplin or Wes Burns, I think there’s every chance that Lee, injury-free, would have made the same type of jumps.

“I think he’s a fantastic player and a great professional. He’s always had a very big part to play behind the scenes. That’s why the club wanted to give him the opportunity to play regularly in the last couple of months of the season to set himself up well for next season."