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Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has implemented a surprise change to his side’s formation ahead of the new season.
The Tractor Boys are back in the Championship and have had to adapt to switches in personnel over the summer.
Ipswich have lost a number of key stars this summer, including losing Omari Hutchinson who left for Nottingham Forest. Forest were also linked with Leif Davis, but the ex-Leeds player recently shut down any rumours of a potential move to the City Ground.
Town fans have noticed one key player has had his long-term position tweaked as a result of the changes – and now he’s admitted that while it took him by surprise, he’s enjoying his new role.
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Leif Davis has been given a new position by Kieran McKenna
Left back Leif Davis has been a mainstay on the left of McKenna’s back line since the club’s rise from League One. He signed from Leeds in 2022 and quickly established himself in the position, grabbing a whopping 38 assists from there in all competitions since.
While the ex-Morecambe academy player has played there this season, he has also moved inside, rather than his go-to of flying up the flank to cross balls into the box.
Instead, he now floats into midfield in an inverted full-back role.
Speaking about the switch, Davis said: “It was one that shocked me, to be fair, when I first came back for pre-season.
“The manager said that it would improve me as a player, playing more positions, instead of getting the ball on the touchline and crossing it in.
“It also helps out Jaden [Philogene], who’s a very, very good one-v-one player, so if I’m in the middle, it leaves him one-v-one to get at full-backs. I like it in there. You get a lot of the ball, I can probably score and get on the end of more crosses in that area.
“That’s one thing that will take time. It doesn’t just happen overnight, me getting used to that position. It will take time.”
McKenna has put Davis in a more central position to also help cover lack of bodies there – something Ipswich will want to solve with a new recruit before the transfer window shuts.
Ipswich Town need to look at signing new central midfielders
After losing captain Sam Morsy and Massimo Luongo to Millwall, the Suffolk club have recruited former loanee Jens Cajuste from Napoli, as well as Azor Matusiwa.
Jack Taylor has been playing in midfield, while youngster Cameron Humphreys has returned from his season-long loan with Wycombe.
In their bid to boost their midfield, Town have missed out on signing Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough, with the star opting not to move to Portman Road despite Boro wanting him to move on.
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Ipswich’s loan bid for Lewis Miley was rejected this week, but there are other midfielders the Tractor Boys should look at signing.
McKenna and co. have reportedly put Bournemouth midfielders Lewis Cook and Philip Billing on their list of potential transfers.
Meanwhile, Josh Brownhill – who left Burnley this summer on a free transfer – is also available. Having Davis drifting into midfield is fine for now, but Ipswich will likely benefit from him being back in his usual position to get the most out of him.