Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna confirmed that Nathan Broadhead could see some action against Southampton on Saturday if necessary, while Harry Clarke might also be called upon in an emergency situation. The rest of the squad has been training this week.
Broadhead, who plays for Wales, has not participated this season due to a hamstring injury suffered early in pre-season. Clarke recently underwent double Achilles surgery following the end of the last season.
“Pretty much everyone’s been involved with training in some part this week,” McKenna stated. “We’ve got a few players managing different knocks and different issues, but everyone’s played some part this week. Some are a little bit further behind who have missed pre-season, but the group’s looking really healthy.”
On Broadhead and Clarke, he noted, “Both have trained this week. Nathan’s a little bit further along than Harry. I think from a physical point of view, he would be able to play some minutes this weekend, which is a big positive to have those options. Harry’s still a little bit further behind but he’s trained in the majority of the sessions this week, so if we were in big, big need he probably could be able to get on the pitch for some minutes this weekend.”
He added, “But we’re pretty strong in that position, so it gives us good depth now. We know we’re in a period where there aren’t many games at the moment, so it’s a time for us to train and develop the squad and approach one league game a week 100 percent. However, there will come times over the season when the schedule gets busier or we’re shorter on numbers, and we’re going to need everyone to contribute. It’s great to have those options.”
McKenna also mentioned that released defender Janoi Donacien is still with the club, receiving treatment for a minor ankle injury he sustained while on international duty with St Lucia. “JD is just back from international duty and he’s got a small ankle injury,” he said. “He’s fine, but he’s still with us receiving some treatment and looking at the right next steps now. As I’ve said many times, a top, top player, outstanding person, and I think there’s a big demand for his services, so we’ll try and help him make the right decision for the next step of his career.”
Fans expressed mixed feelings about the situation with Donacien, with some wishing him well and others reflecting on the changes in the team. There were comments on the competition for positions, especially regarding Broadhead’s consistency and how the squad has evolved. Overall, the sentiment was one of optimism for the team’s depth and future.
