Ipswich Town are set to return to Championship action on Good Friday, which is the start of the final run-in of the season.
The Tractor Boys returned to the second tier at the end of last season, and they haven’t just used this campaign as a chance to find their feet, in fact, Kieran McKenna’s side have continued their fine form and have been one of the best sides in the division.
Ipswich have managed to play free-flowing attacking football, which has also got them results, and that has seen them fight for the automatic places during the whole of the campaign so far.
This two-week international break has allowed teams to re-group and rest up, while it has also been an opportunity for injured players to get back to fitness.
However, for Ipswich, that hasn’t been the case, as Wes Burns looks set to miss not only this Easter weekend but also the rest of this season.
Wes Burns could miss the rest of the season
Wes Burns has once again been an important figure for Ipswich this season, so seeing him limp off in the 6-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday before the international break would have been a concern.
After that game, Kieran McKenna confirmed that the Welsh international, who has scored five goals and three assists in the league, had damaged his hamstring, and it didn’t look good.
Of course, that meant Burns missed Wales’ two important Euro 2024 qualification play-off games, but it now looks as though he could miss a lot more.
Speaking ahead of Ipswich’s game against Blackburn Rovers, McKenna has revealed that Burns’ injury may mean the winger might not return to action before the end of the 2023/24 season.
The Ipswich boss said it is not impossible that Burns returns to action before the end of the season, but they will just have to “wait and see.”
So, with Burns possibly not returning to action this season, it will mean McKenna needs to see his other players step up and try and stake a claim for that right-wing role.
One player who definitely needs to step up now in Ipswich’s time of need is Marcus Harness, who has had a testing campaign so far.
Wes Burns’ injury for Ipswich could force Marcus Harness to step up
At this point in the season, many teams up and down the English Football League are dealing with injuries across their squads.
The demands of the seasons do put a strain on the squads, but while Ipswich still have to manage their players, they could be considered luckier than others, as they do have a big squad, and what comes with that is a wealth of options.
So, with Wes Burns out injured and possibly missing the rest of the season, it is time some of the other players at the club to step up and see it as a chance to claim a spot in the starting XI.
