Ipswich Town: Kieran McKenna issues update on Leif Davis situation | OneFootball

Kieran McKenna has provided a fitness update on star full-back Leif Davis ahead of Ipswich Town's final two games of the season.

Results from the weekend mean that Town only need four points from their remaining fixtures against Coventry City (A) and Huddersfield Town (H) to be promoted to the Premier League.

Had they taken all three points from their late kick-off game against Hull City on Saturday, which ended in a 3-3 draw, then they could have been incredibly close to sealing their spot alongside Leicester City in the top flight for the 2024/25 season.

The game against the Tigers saw the return of George Hirst and Wes Burns. The forward had been out with a hamstring injury since late December, and he got a goal on his return, netting the opening goal of the evening.

Burns had picked up a similar injury just before the final international break of the season. He, too, started the game against Hull, but he wasn't able to directly contribute to any goals, and was replaced by Jeremy Sarmiento with around half an hour to go.

McKenna's team looked to be getting back towards full strength, until their left-back rolled his ankle when off the ball with less than 10 minutes to go in the match, which was a concerning sight for Ipswich fans.

Davis provided his 18th assist of the season when Omari Hutchinson put the Tractor Boys 3-2 up. He has been an integral part of Ipswich's brilliance this season, and losing him for the final couple of games would be a tough pill to swallow.

Kieran McKenna's Leif Davis injury update

The manager has some clarity on the extent of the 24-year-old's injury.

He said, via EADT: "He's limping pretty heavily. He rolled his ankle. It's an issue he's had before. We'll have to assess him over the next few days."

The full-back, who was replaced by Harry Clarke on Saturday, has only missed five of Ipswich's league games this season.

Leif Davis' importance to Ipswich can't be understated

Two goals and six assists: those are the returns that Davis has provided in his last nine appearances for the Tractor Boys. For a player in his position, that is remarkable, and it's a clear statement of why he's so important to this team.

Especially with Burns back, the part of the pitch where Ipswich have a lot of firepower is with their wingers. They are able to start Hutchinson and a Welsh international in Burns, and they can bring the likes of Sarmiento on to replace them, and the likes of Nathan Broadhead weren't even involved in Saturday's game.

The wide areas will be a big worry for any defence coming up against McKenna's team, but, when you add the attacking output that their left-back has been providing to it, it becomes near impossible to stop them from having joy by the touchline.

If Davis misses the game against Coventry, it will be much easier for Mark Robins to implement a defensive game plan to try and stop the Tractor Boys from creating chances from out wide. Clarke just doesn't pose as much of a threat going forward.

Tuesday night will be the key to their promotion success. The final day of the season, against a Huddersfield side that need a miracle to avoid relegation, at Portman Road, should be a much easier game for Town. If they only need a point going into it, then that will make the nerves much more settled, and so will having Davis in the starting XI.