Gary Lineker says Ipswich Town are ‘most likely’ of newly-promoted sides to survive in Premier League on The Rest Is Football podcast

Match of the Day presenter and former England striker Gary Lineker has labelled Ipswich Town as the ‘most likely’ of the newly-promoted teams to survive the drop from the Premier League this season.

After the Blues picked up their first point of the campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Fulham, SuffolkNews’ Ipswich Town columnist Joey Sadler asked Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards on The Rest Is Football podcast: ‘What have you made of (Kieran) McKenna’s men so far?’.

Lineker, who makes no secret of his love for former club Leicester City, who pipped Town to the Sky Bet Championship title last season, replied: “I think Kieran McKenna’s done an amazing job. I mean, they’ve done double promotions haven’t they? Which is a very, very difficult thing to do, and then to try and adapt in the Premier League.

“They (the board) have supported him, they’ve spent a few quid, as promoted clubs have to do to stand any sort of chance to stay up.

“I think of the three promoted teams, that I’ve watched so far, including my own club Leicester, I think they (Ipswich) look the most likely so far (to stay up).”

Newcastle United legend Shearer agreed with Lineker’s Town admission.

“Their season started last weekend (against Fulham), didn’t it, really?,” he said.

“Liverpool and (Manchester) City was a ridiculously hard start for them, and they’ve got their first point.

“I agree with you (Gary), in terms of what I’ve seen in the first three games, despite who they’ve played against, I would give them the best chance of surviving.”

Following the international break, which will see 10 Town players represent their countries, the Blues return to Premier League action with a trip to face Brighton on Saturday, September 14 (3pm).

Meanwhile, the Blues’ potential relegation rivals Leicester have avoided a points deduction for an alleged breach of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) levied at them following their relegation to the Championship after the 2022/23 season due to no longer being under their jurisdiction at the point the charge was made.