BBC Sports McKenna must unleash “superb” Ipswich star who’s their very own Gibbs-White.
Despite a challenging start to their first Premier League season in 22 years, Ipswich Town appear to have the potential to stay in the league.
Despite facing top teams like Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester United, Kieran McKenna’s team is only one point away from safety.
Today, Suffolk face a tough test against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. If Morgan Gibbs-White is healthy, they must overcome his skill.
Fortunately, the Tractor Boys should be upbeat after their draw with United on Sunday, and they even have a solution for the Forest ace in one of their own dynamic attacking players.
Ipswich’s recent performances
Ipswich have gone undefeated in their previous three league games, drawing away to Leicester City, defeating Spurs, and, of course, collecting a legendary point at home against the Red Devils this weekend.
| Ipswich’s PL record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Match | Opponent | Result |
| 1 | Liverpool (H) | 2-0 Loss |
| 2 | Manchester City (A) | 4-1 Loss |
| 3 | Fulham (H) | 1-1 Draw |
| 4 | Brighton & Hove Albion (A) | 0-0 Draw |
| 5 | Southampton (A) | 1-1 Draw |
| 6 | Aston Villa (H) | 2-2 Draw |
| 7 | West Ham United (A) | 4-1 Loss |
| 8 | Everton (H) | 2-0 Loss |
| 9 | Brentford (A) | 4-3 Loss |
| 10 | Leicester City (H) | 1-1 Draw |
| 11 | Tottenham Hotspur (A) | 2-1 Win |
| 12 | Manchester United (H) | 1-1 Draw |
| All Stats via the Premier League | ||
On Sunday, the Tractor Boys had excellent performances all over the pitch, including summer signing Dara O’Shea, who appeared to be a brick wall at moments.
Alex Jones of the East Anglian Daily Times gave the Irishman an 8/10 grade for his full-time performance, which was well-deserved based on game statistics.
In just 94 minutes, he made four tackles, five clearances, two interceptions, won ten duels, and blocked one shot.
Jones gave captain Sam Morsy an 8/10 for his performance, citing his two interceptions and one clearance, as well as his 84 touches and 67 of 71 passes in the middle of the pitch.
However, while both starts performed admirably, Jones’ man of the match was someone else completely, someone who may be McKenna’s Gibbs-White.
Ipswich’s Response to Gibbs-White
To get directly to the point, the Ipswich man who stood out on Sunday and may be the team’s response to Gibbs-White is none other than Omari Hutchinson.The former Chelsea player scored the Tractor Boys’ sole goal against United, received a 9/10 from Jones, and posed a danger throughout the game. However, why is he the club’s Gibbs-White?
Well, the first reason is his positional adaptability.
Jacek Kulig, a talent scout, describes the 21-year-old as a “superb” player who can play off the right or in offensive midfield according on the team’s needs.
This ability to play in two distinct sections of the pitch and do so successfully is an extremely valuable quality to have since it gives the manager greater freedom in how he lines up his team or reacts to the opponent.
| Hutchinson’s Ipswich record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Season | 23/24 | 24/25 |
| Appearances | 50 | 12 |
| Goals | 11 | 1 |
| Assists | 6 | 1 |
| Goal Involvements per Match | 0.34 | 0.16 |
| All Stats via Transfermarkt | ||
The second reason is similar to what we seen on Sunday: the capacity to just make things happen for their team.
Although the Redhill-born powerhouse has struggled with his performance this season, it is his first season of top-flight football. In 50 games for the Blues last season, he picked up an amazing total of 11 goals and six assists.
Furthermore, he scored important goals, including two in the season’s last game away to Hull City, and then scored the team’s second goal against Huddersfield Town on the final day of the season, sealing promotion.
Ultimately, Hutchinson is an extremely intriguing talent in his own right, but it is his positional versatility and capacity to make things happen that distinguishes him as Ipswich’s own Gibbs-White, and McKenna must play him tonight.
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