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Ipswich Town: Kieran McKenna ‘hopeful’ Omari Hutchinson might feature against Brighton & Hove Albion in Premier League clash




Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is ‘hopeful’ key attacker Omari Hutchinson might return to the side against Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow night.

The 21-year-old, who has scored against Manchester United and Chelsea in the Premier League this season, may return from a groin issue earlier than anticipated after missing the 2-2 draw at Fulham and Sunday’s 3-0 FA Cup victory over Bristol Rovers.

However, other attacking options Sammie Szmodics (ankle) and Conor Chaplin (knee) are expected to miss out on the fixture at Portman Road (7.30pm, TNT Sports).

Omari Hutchinson could return for Ipswich Town against Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow night. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Omari Hutchinson could return for Ipswich Town against Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow night. Picture: Barry Goodwin

On Hutchinson being in the squad tomorrow, McKenna said: “It’s not impossible. We have to make a judgement, he did some work on the grass today, so we’re really hopeful that we’ll see him at stages this week.

“But what that looks like and how many minutes across the games, we’ll have to assess and try and make the right judgement.”

McKenna has no new fitness issues to worry about with Ben Godfrey available to make his league debut for Town, having started on Sunday following his loan move from Atalanta.

Axel Tuanzebe remains on the sidelines with a hamstring issue but is close to a return to the team.

Striker George Hirst is in contention after making his first appearance in two months at the weekend.

“He’s been very unlucky, I have to say, and we’ve been unlucky to lose him,” McKenna said.

“I think his impact off the bench in the games that he was available for was really good.

“I think the Brighton away game was a prime example. I think without him, where we were in the game when he came on, I’m not sure we go on to get the point.

“He had a really big part in swinging the momentum in that game away from home against Brighton, and he did that on a few occasions.

“He’s a valuable member of the squad, he knows his role, he knows what we want from him, he knows his qualities really, really well now, he’s matured well and having him as an option in the squad will only be a positive for us.”

Brighton currently sit 11th in the table and are winless in eight Premier League games - six of them draws.

McKenna said the form of tomorrow’s opposition proves how tough the league is and described them still as a ‘top team’.

He said: “You can say that they haven’t won in eight games, but they have only lost four times in 20 games. The only teams who have lost less are Liverpool and Arsenal, I believe, so they have been really, really hard to beat.

“What I believe they have said, and I’m sure they are saying, is that they have probably drawn more games than they would want. They have lost some leads late and conceded some late goals.

“In reality, if a couple of draws had been turned into wins, they would be in a much happier position with their points total and their place in the table.

“The games that I’ve watched, they have shown some really, really good things. It’s clear that, in flow, when they are on top in a game and when things go how they want, they are a top side. A top, top Premier League team.

“But also, the league is so competitive this year. The margins to win games is really tough.

“They have probably had too many draws, which is why they might not be as high as they would want, but that certainly doesn’t change our perspective on the size of the challenge that we’re going to face.”