Ipswich Town: Wes Burns talks the club’s spirit and journey to reach Premier League under Kieran McKenna after signing new contract

Ipswich Town winger Wes Burns has discussed the club’s spirit and journey under manager Kieran McKenna after signing a new two-year contract.

Following three seasons at Portman Road, the 29-year-old has played a key role in the Blues’ rise to the Premier League from League One.

Burns joined from Fleetwood Town in 2021, becoming the first signing of the Gamechanger 20 Ltd era and has now delivered 28 goals in 128 appearances.

The Welshman has credited the spirit within Town’s squad for their impressive form and results over the last few seasons.

He said to Town TV: “It’s massive. I’ve said it before in previous interviews that the group of lads that we’ve put together here is one of the best groups of men that I could ever possibly wish to work with.

“When I talk about the style in which we did it, there were late winners, there were big wins, 5-0, 6-0 wins and things like that in the League One season and the Championship season.

“Big performances away from home when you can really see the togetherness in the group, not only as players, but the staff are into it together, everyone’s bought into the culture of the club and that’s probably why it’s propelled us to where we are so quickly.”

“For me personally, could I get myself to that stage and be a consistent player within a team in the Championship because I’d not really done that throughout my career.

“But for us to go back-to-back the way we did and play and do it in the style we did was something that was well beyond what any of us thought we could do.

“I guess now the next step is, can we be a stable club in the Premier League and can I be a consistent player in the Premier League?”

After spending time at previous clubs, Burns now feels at home at Portman Road.

“I’ve been at multiple clubs throughout my career,” he said.

“I spent a long time at Fleetwood, I was there five or six years, but I never really felt at home even though I spent a lot of time there.

“I was at Bristol City for a long time before then and that was kind of my home in football, really.

“The three or four years that I’ve been here, I’ve really embraced the life here in Ipswich and I’ve met so many people outside of the club now that have become friends and will be friends for life that I know can always come back here.”

Blues centre-half Elkan Baggott, on loan at Blackpool, is facing at least another month on the sidelines with the ankle injury he suffered last month.

The 21-year-old has made only three appearances since joining the League One side in pre-season and has missed the last four matches.

In other news, Town’s fixture at home to Manchester United on Sunday, November 24, has now been selected for live coverage on Sky Sports and will kick off at 4.30pm.