As well as Clarke: 8/10 Ipswich star just proved he deserves more minutes.
Kieran McKenna made 11 wholesale changes for the match against Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues, leading to concerns about a disjointed and uninspiring performance. However, the visitors easily won despite the changes.
McKenna may be tempted to keep with some of the reserve individuals who sealed a resounding victory, with Jack Clarke one Ipswich face who was undoubtedly knocking on the door for further first-team opportunity following his electrifying performance at the CBS Arena.
Jack Clarke’s performance in numbers.
Despite just making five Premier League starts this season, the ex-Sunderland attacker’s performance against Coventry suggests he may be given more opportunities.
The on-the-fringes number 47 scored two goals and one assist in 90 minutes, leaving the Sky Blues defense at a loss for how to stop the 24-year-old attacker.
With Nathan Broadhead the only other recognized left winger in McKenna’s squad, aside from the flexible Jaden Philogene, who can wreak havoc down both channels, the Ipswich manager may be willing to offer the dynamic attacker more opportunities when he returns to the top division.
Clarke, however, will not be the only player who has given McKenna a lot to think about in terms of future squad selection.
George Hirst’s Performance in Numbers
George Hirst is another player who is sometimes overlooked, yet he shone out against the Sky Blues.
He faces the challenge of establishing himself as Ipswich’s main striker while Liam Delap, an ex-Manchester City center-forward with nine Premier League goals, continues to dominate.
However, aside from Delap, the alternatives in this area of the pitch are limited, thus Hirst might be used up top as an impact player off the bench after terrorising Coventry all day.
| Hirst’s performance in numbers | |
|---|---|
| Stat | Hirst |
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Goals scored | 1 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Touches | 26 |
| Accurate passes | 10/15 (67%) |
| Key passes | 2 |
| Stats by Sofascore | |
After all, the former Leicester City star set the tone for the day by scoring a penalty after only two minutes of play, as well as giving the Suffolk side a small 2-1 lead after combining brilliantly with the aforementioned Clarke.
With only 26 touches of the ball required to create a lasting impression, McKenna should be able to use the 25-year-old in Premier League games in the future, with Hirst functioning as a figure who may come on late into tight games to try to open up a tired defence.
McKenna will know his soldiers are up against it now in their bid to avoid relegation, having just lost to cellar club Southampton, but he will hope his entire team can band together to pull off the unimaginable.
If this FA Cup away day is any indication, he could do much worse than give Clarke and Hirst more minutes in their desperate battle to avoid relegation.
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