Ipswich Town warned about "key threat" Ryan Manning ahead of Southampton FC clash | OneFootball

FLW's Ipswich Town fan pundit has highlighted the one major threat the team faces against Southampton this weekend.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Ipswich Town will face Southampton on Sunday afternoon in their second league fixture of the new campaign.

The Tractor Boys are searching for their first league victory of the new season after drawing 1-1 with Birmingham City at St. Andrew’s on the opening weekend.

The Suffolk outfit are facing a fellow former Premier League club in Southampton at Portman Road, with 19th playing 20th from last year’s top flight table.

The two clubs will both be hoping to push for promotion this year, so an early result against a possible rival could prove a big moment in the early stages of the new term.

Ipswich Town issued Southampton, Ryan Manning warning

When asked which Southampton player McKenna’s side should be worried about on Sunday, Football League World's Ipswich fan pundit, Adam Wilkin, named Ryan Manning.

He highlighted the defender’s creativity and set-piece threat as something that the Tractor Boys will have to keep a keen eye on if they’re to get a result this weekend.

“With Dibling and Fernandes’ future both up in the air, although Fernandes has come off the bench in their first game and started their second game, I’m not going to go for either of those,” Wilkin told Football League World.

“I think Ryan Manning’s set-pieces and his creativity at Championship level is very, very good.

“I know he didn’t start the first game, but I think he’s almost certainly going to start this one.

“He would be my key threat for them because of his set-piece ability and because of his ability to pick a pass.

“We’ve not been great at defending set-pieces recently - we conceded one to Bromley in the Carabao Cup - so that’s why he’s my key player from them.”

Ipswich will host Southampton at Portman Road in a 12pm kick-off on Sunday, with both sides looking to preserve their unbeaten Championship record this season for another week.

Ryan Manning changed the game for Southampton vs Wrexham

Southampton were heading for a very disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Wrexham last weekend before Manning came on in the second half.

His late free-kick was a wonderful strike to equalise the clash at 1-1, and he was then crucial to the Saints earning an even later winner.

The Irishman’s attacking threat will be something Ipswich have to manage on Sunday, especially as he is now likely to start after his impact last week.

Ipswich will need greater attacking threat of their own too, with George Hirst’s penalty the only shot on target McKenna’s side had all game against Birmingham in their opening game.