Ipswich Town defender Leif Davis has acknowledged the need to take a more cautious approach to his attacking play now that the team is in the Premier League.
The 24-year-old, known for his adventurous style as a left-back in League One and the Championship, often found himself pushing forward ahead of his teammates. This attacking mindset helped him register 18 assists in the Championship last season, a record for a full-back at that level.
However, Davis has had to adjust his game in the Premier League, although he remains hopeful about contributing offensively against top-tier competition.
“I’ve still got to do what I do, going forward and doing my defensive work,” he said.
“It’s more defence than attacking this year. I’m still going to do what I do, try to get the assists in as well and work hard for the team.
“That’s what I’ve got to do on my left-hand side, I’ve got to work hard. If I don’t get the ball, I’m still running, I’m still running back.
“I just do what I’m told, to be fair, and do everything I can to help the boys.”
Davis’ contributions in attack have been aided by his role in set pieces, where he frequently takes corners and free kicks. Mark Hudson, the former Cardiff City manager, has joined Ipswich Town to improve the team’s set-piece strategy, and Davis believes the benefits will soon be evident.
“You see that we’re changing it up on the other side where Kalvin [Phillips] takes it,” he explained. “He’s got an unbelievable delivery as well.
“Mark’s top. On defensive corners, he’s brought a lot. We’ve just got to work it game by game.
“We use every Thursday – the set-piece day – for it, and we’ve got to dial in.”
With survival in the Premier League a challenge, set pieces will be crucial for Ipswich to score. Scoring from open play can be difficult, so making the most of set-piece opportunities is essential.
“It’s where you can get your goals from,” Davis said. “A lot of teams get their goals from set plays that win them the game.
“We’ve just got to do that as well, we’ve got to dial in as much as we can to get set-play goals or clean sheets from set plays.
“All over the pitch, we’ve got to dial in.”
Davis has been reunited with Kalvin Phillips, with whom he played at Leeds United. Phillips’ set-piece delivery has been impressive, and he nearly scored against Aston Villa last month. Davis isn’t surprised by Phillips’ form, having seen his ability firsthand.
“I’ve played with him when he was at Leeds,” Davis said. “He’s had a tough few years but he never let it get to him. He always tried to do everything he could to try and play his best.
“Now he’s here, he’s happy and playing with us. Hopefully he can get that first goal soon.”
