McKenna on injuries, rotation and Aston Villa
- Published
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Aston Villa (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
McKenna confirmed thatConor Chaplin remains unavailable, but Sammie Szmodics' ankle injury reoccurrence "has not been too serious" and that it will be a "judgement call" on Friday whether he will be fit.
On the "few little setbacks" Chaplin has had with his MCL injury: "He had a slightly different course of treatment this week to see if that can accelerate it a little bit because he's not quite been over able to meet that last hurdle. A slightly different direction this week and fingers crossed he will be back with the group next week."
On being able to rotate his squad for last week's FA Cup win at Coventry: "A good little confidence booster, even for people in the building, for some of the work that's going on, some of the improvements being made. It's hard to show it against Liverpool, against Manchester City, some of the toughest teams you have. With there being less games in the in the Premier League, it's hard to always get the validation of improvements being made in a group like ours."
McKenna also said new goalkeeper Alex Palmer did "everything you would want" from a debutant and that it was "the perfect game to put him into": "There's a possibility [Palmer will start at Villa]. It gives us the type of options that we want. We'll pick what we think is right for each game".
On the defeat by Southampton in their most recent Premier League game: "Everyone was really disappointed by the result, but the the reaction has been what it needed to be. We felt the hurt together, we analysed the things that we needed to do better and then we've got on with trying to improve - the players and the group with the new players. It was a good week last week and a good game in the cup, and now we look forward to a big challenge."
On dealing with hostile atmospheres at grounds like Villa Park: "Over the course of the season, we've had experience of trying to manage that. Of course, we're not perfect, but we've learned some lessons and we'll need to use them on Saturday. On top of that, it's also important you go there with a bravery to go and play your game and try to impose yourself on and off the ball. Make sure that you can take the crowd away from the opponent at times."
