B B C Sports. Ipswich Town: Kieran McKenna ‘hopeful’ Omari Hutchinson might feature against Brighton & Hove Albion in Premier League clash.

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna is ‘hopeful’ that vital forward Omari Hutchinson will be able to return to the side against Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow night. The 21-year-old, who has scored against Manchester United and Chelsea in the Premier League this season, might return from a groin injury earlier than expected after missing the 2-2 draw at Fulham and Sunday’s 3-0 FA Cup win over Bristol Rovers. However, there are additional offensive alternatives Sammie Szmodics (ankle) and Conor Chaplin (knee) are expected to miss the game at Portman Road (7.30pm on TNT Sports).

Omari Hutchinson may return for Ipswich Town against Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow night. Picture: Barry Goodwin. McKenna suggested Hutchinson might be in the squad tomorrow. We have to make a decision; he did some work on the grass today, so we’re hoping to see him in stages this week. “But what that looks like and how many minutes across the games, we’ll have to assess and try and make the right judgement.” McKenna has no fresh fitness concerns, with Ben Godfrey ready to make his league debut for Town after starting on Sunday following his loan move from Atalanta.
Axel Tuanzebe is still on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, although he is close to returning to the club. Striker George Hirst is in contention after making his first appearance in two months over the weekend. “He’s been very unlucky, I have to say, and we’ve been unlucky to lose him,” according to McKenna. “I believe his effect off the bench in the games for which he was available was really positive. Cam Burgess and Harry Clarke received @premierleaguematch balls to mark their Premier League debuts.

McKenna stated that the form of tomorrow’s opponents demonstrates how competitive the league is, and that they are a ‘top team’. He stated, “You could argue that they haven’t won in eight games, but they have only lost four times in twenty games. The only teams who have lost less are Liverpool and Arsenal, I suppose, so they have been extremely difficult to beat. “What I believe they have stated, and I am confident they are saying, is that they have probably drawn more games than they would like. They’ve lost some leads and dropped late goals.McKenna said the form of tomorrow’s opposition proves how tough the league is and described them still as a ‘top team’.

He said: “You can say that they haven’t won in eight games, but they have only lost four times in 20 games. The only teams who have lost less are Liverpool and Arsenal, I believe, so they have been really, really hard to beat.

“What I believe they have said, and I’m sure they are saying, is that they have probably drawn more games than they would want. They have lost some leads late and conceded some late goals.

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