Ipswich Town

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Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna has praised Brighton's "really good habits and traits" as his side go in search of a first win since returning to the Premier League when they face the Seagulls on Saturday.

"They've had a good start and they're a really good side, no doubt about it," Ipswich boss McKenna told Town TV.

"They've got some really good habits and traits over the last couple of managers. They are comfortable in possession and build really well through the pitch.

"They've got some fantastic talent and individual quality, both starters and on the bench.

"The new manager's come in and he's putting his own style on it and improving them in certain areas and probably making them an even more well-rounded threat.

"So we know they're a really good side and it's a good challenge for us. But it's another one to really look forward to, to go and impose ourselves, be brave and go with the belief that we can get a result."

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Former Ipswich player and manager Jim Magilton says playing under George Burley at the club "was the most enjoyable time" of his career.

Following the announcement that Burley is currently having cancer treatment, Magilton spoke on The Score podcast, external, to talk about the impact Burley had on him as a footballer.

"He resurrected my career in all honesty. My career had just halted, at 29 I'd played for many years at Southampton in the Premier League and I went to Sheffield Wednesday thinking I could kick on - it never happened," Magilton recalled.

"I managed to have a conversation with George and Ipswich were second or third in the Championship and he convinced me to go down to Portman Road. Once I landed, it felt like home and he made it feel like home."

Burley was the last Ipswich manager before Kieran McKenna to lead the club to the Premier League and Magilton said he was "one of those unique players and managers" to have had an "unbelievable career".

"To achieve what he did in the way he did it, is just incredible," said Magilton.

"He made a massive difference in my career. He gave me the freedom to go and play and he never talked too much about tactics, it was more about passing and moving off the ball - he gave the players the freedom to go and do that. It was music to my ears.

"It was the most enjoyable time of my career."

Emily Reilly-ODonnell
BBC Sport researcher

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League trip to Brighton (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference.

• On Arijanet Muric, who allegedly broke team regulations while on international duty: "I've had a conversation with him. It's not mine or Ipswich Town's area to clear it up. He's given me his version, which I think is a little bit different to some of the rumours. I've got no problem with his version. He's our player and it was good to have him back for a couple of days of extra training."

• McKenna confirmed he has a full squad available with both Wes Burns and George Hirst ready to play: "Wes and George both trained with the group this week. It's not impossible [for them to play v Brighton]. They've been with the group all week and are both ahead of schedule. They are both feeling really good, but of course we'll make the right judgement this weekend."

• On new deals for Burns and goalkeeper Christian Walton: "It's very important. We're very happy to have those two players in addition to players earlier on. A few more conversations are ongoing with some of our players."

• On his players during international break: "I enjoy watching them. We always try and watch them to learn more about them. I enjoyed watching all the games but I didn't manage to go to any."

• On being targeted by other clubs this summer, including Saturday's opponents Brighton: "Being the manager to lead the club into the Premier League after everything we had achieved and the journey that we've been on - anything other than that wouldn't have felt the right decision. I'm delighted that I'm here and I'm enjoying the challenges. I am determined to do my absolute best to make this another great season for the club."

• On the challenge this season: "The fact that we've brought in some players isn't what's going to make us have a good season. We've got some other gaps to make up and that's going to be made up by: our culture, by our environment, by how we work day to day, by how we mould the players we have into a team, by how we get the best out of them individually, by how we maximise our game plans and by our approach to every game."

• On the threats he expects from Brighton: "They've built a team that's comfortable in possession but their big threat is having outstanding one v one forwards and they've added depth to these positions."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler says Ipswich will provide "a big and different challenge" to any team they have faced so far.

"In the Premier League, there are no easy games," Hurzeler said. "They are a team with a great coach and he has great ideas. They have a great togetherness and they attack very intensely.

"It will be a big and different challenge for us, but we will face it and we look forward to it.

"The expectation is always the same and that is to go out and display the basic things. That is what I demand from my players in every game, no matter if we’re playing Manchester United or Ipswich.

"Maybe the expectation is that we go and win this game, but when you are ambitious you have to deal with this pressure and expectation from the outside."

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Ipswich Town have had the fewest shots (19), shots on target (seven) and the lowest expected goals total (1.2) of any side in the Premier League so far this season.

The Tractor Boys ranked first, second and fourth respectively for those metrics in the Championship in 2023-24.

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Following the announcement that former Ipswich Town player and manager George Burley is undergoing cancer treatment, BBC Radio Suffolk sports editor Graeme McLoughlin said: "George just loves this club. He's continued to do so ever since his reign as boss came to an end.

"He wishes the club so well always and continues to be a real positive figurehead for the Town."

Reflecting on seeing Burley at an event before the East Anglian derby against Norwich City in April, McLoughlin added: "He was so buoyant and happy. It's comforting to see that Ipswich Town will be there for him and his family.

"George Burley is a legendary figure at this club. Here at BBC Radio Suffolk, we all wish him the best."

Seb Brown
Fan writer

Will not signing another striker prove costly for Ipswich? It is a debate that has raged among fans since the closure of the transfer window.

The morning of deadline day was met with excitement as multiple sources revealed that the on-off loan deal for Armando Broja was back on once again with a reasonable degree of confidence that it would be completed.

Fast forward to the 23:00 deadline and the window ‘slammed’ shut with no new arrival. Broja ended up at Everton meaning, until January, Ipswich have three strikers vying to be the focal point in Kieran McKenna’s 4-2-3-1 system.

Of the three, one was a new arrival this summer in Liam Delap. Another, Ali Al-Hamadi, was playing in League Two as recently as January. And the third, George Hirst, is still recovering from a knee injury picked up in pre-season.

Delap has certainly impressed in his early outings. A goal against Fulham, combined with his physicality and selfless running has shown that he has the attributes to be a big contributor this season.

Given the nature of our system, the ‘finishers’ are just as important as the ‘starters’. McKenna likes to change all four attacking players and maintaining the quality is crucial to our gameplans. Al-Hamadi is still raw and is playing catch up after missing most of pre-season.

The return of Hirst in October will prove vital. He has shown over the past 18 months that his stature and pace are vital weapons in the Ipswich armoury and can be used to great effect in creating space for the main goal scorers in the side, the three behind the striker.

His similarities to Delap may mean we do not need to dip into the market in January, but careful management of the current fit strikers will be crucial until his return.

Find more from Seb Brown at the Blue Monday Podcast, external

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Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna says "we are all right behind" George Burley, who is undergoing cancer treatment.

Burley, 68, played for Ipswich from 1973 to 1985 and completed 500 appearances for the club. He was manager at Ipswich from 1994 to 2002.

"It has been a difficult time, but I am feeling much brighter now," said Burley. "In fact, I am able to get to matches at Portman Road and I am enjoying watching the team playing back in the Premier League."

McKenna added: "This club has had some brilliant managers and George is right up there as one of the very best.

"It has been a pleasure to get to know George since I arrived at Ipswich. He is a positive and optimistic character, and I know he will also take that attitude into the battle he now faces.

"We are all right behind him."