McKenna must drop Szmodics to unleash the 23-year-old Ipswich wonder.
Ipswich Town will meet Brighton and Hove Albion this weekend, hoping to win their first Premier League game of the 2024/25 season.
Kieran McKenna’s team has drawn one and lost two of their first three games this season, falling to title contenders Liverpool and Manchester City before drawing with Fulham last time out.
They will, however, have another difficult job against Fabian Hurzeler’s side, as the Seagulls are undefeated following victories against Everton and Manchester United before drawing with Mikel Arteta before the international break.
The 31-year-old German received the Manager of the Month accolade for August, underscoring his successful start in England.
McKenna may need to make one harsh decision if his team is to take all three points from the South Coast this afternoon, eliminating one player from the starting lineup.
Why McKenna may remove Szmodics for the Brighton clash
Forward Sammie Szmodics joined Portman Road for £11 million from Championship club Blackburn Rovers, bringing high hopes from his previous season.
Last season, the Irish international scored 27 goals in 44 league games, becoming the division’s top scorer.
He made an immediate impression for the Tractor Boys, scoring on his debut against Pep Guardiola’s City side, earning him a starting spot against Fulham.
During his 81-minute performance, the 28-year-old had only 24 touches and completed 62% of his passes. He did not make any efforts on goal.
| Sammie Szmodics’ stats against Fulham (31/08/2024) | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | Tally |
| Minutes played | 81 |
| Touches | 24 |
| Pass accuracy | 10/16 (62%) |
| Long balls completed | 1/2 (50%) |
| Shots taken | 0 |
| Times caught offside | 1 |
| Stats via FotMob | |
With his goal against the reigning champions, he has clearly had a bright start to his Ipswich career, but he may be forced to make way for one man who might make his first league start for McKenna’s side this weekend.
The guy who will take Szmodics’ place against Brighton
Late in the transfer window, Ipswich bought winger Jack Clarke from Sunderland for a fee of up to £20 million.
The 23-year-old became the club’s third-most expensive acquisition in history, after only Jacob Greaves and Omar Hutchinson. The deal sparked enthusiasm.
| Ipswich Town’s most expensive transfers in history | |
|---|---|
| Player | Fee |
| 1. Omari Hutchinson | £22.5m |
| 2. Jacob Greaves | £21m |
| 3. Jack Clarke | £20m |
| = Liam Delap | £20m |
| 5. Dara O’Shea | £11.8m |
| Stats via Transfermarkt | |
Clarke, who has previously been labeled “unplayable” by former Arsenal ace Adrian Clarke, made his first league debut for Ipswich in the draw with Marco Silva’s side, replacing Szmodics late in the day, but he might start over the Irishman at the AMEX.
Given his expensive transfer value, the former Tottenham Hotspur star is unlikely to be used as an impact player, despite the youngster’s ability to provide significant quality to McKenna’s front line.
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