Ipswich Town team news: Nathan Broadhead could feature against Southampton as Kieran McKenna provides updates on Harry Clarke and Janoi Donacien

Ipswich Town attacker Nathan Broadhead could play his first minutes of the 2024/25 season when the Blues travel to Southampton on Saturday (3pm), boss Kieran McKenna has revealed.

The 26-year-old returned to first-team training last week following a hamstring injury he picked up in pre-season at the end of July.

Ahead of Town’s point on the road at Brighton on Saturday, defender Harry Clarke was also back out on the grass, but McKenna stated he is less likely to feature this weekend.

“Both have trained this week,” he said. “Nathan a little bit further along than Harry, so, I think from a physical point of view, he would be able to play some minutes this weekend which is a big positive to have those options.

“Harry’s still a little bit further behind. He’s trained the majority of the sessions this week so if we were in big, big need, he’d probably be able to get on the pitch for some minutes this weekend, but we’re pretty strong in that position.

“It gives us good depth now and we know we’re in a period where, as I said a little bit earlier, there’s not that many games at the moment.

“It’s a period for us to train and develop the squad, and go at one league game a week 100 per cent.

“Pretty much everyone’s been involved in training in some part this week. We’ve got a few players managing different knocks and different issues but everyone’s played some part this week.

“Some are a little bit further behind with missed pre-season, but the groups looking really healthy.”

McKenna, whose side have picked up two points from their opening four Premier League matches, compared to this weekend’s opponents, who are yet to get off the mark, spoke on the positives of having a full group training together.

“It’s been really enjoyable,” he said. “Having the nice weather always helps, but more importantly, since the end of the transfer window and after the international break, it’s the first time we’ve had the whole group together so we’ve had more time with the players and some more detailed conversations.

“Not just about technical and tactical things, but also about how we’re going to be as a group, laying down some principles for the culture within the group, but also more time on the training pitch, more time to work on certain things.

“I can see the understanding of elements is growing in the group but that’s not completed this week, that’s the first week we’ve had really and the games of course are the most important thing.

“We’re going to give our all this weekend and fight for a performance and fight for points.

“But I do know that if we keep working in the right way that week by week we’ve got a great chance of getting stronger.”

Town to help injured Donacien find new club

In his pre-match press conference, McKenna also revealed that defender Janoi Donacien, whose Blues contract expired in the summer, has returned from international duty with Saint Lucia with an injury and will receive treatment from the club.

“JD (Donacien) is just back from international, he’s got a small ankle injury,” said the Town boss.

“He’s fine but he’s still with us receiving some treatment and looking at the right next steps.

“As I’ve said many times, (he’s a) top, top player, outstanding person and I think there’s a big demand for his services.

“Hopefully we’ll try and help him make the right decision for the next step of his career.”