Kieran McKenna and Darren Bent hail ‘sensational’ Ipswich star, and not Jaden Philogene

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It will be Jaden Philogene’s face plastered over the East Anglian newspapers but, as Ipswich Town coach Kieran McKenna and former Tractor Boy Darren Bent pointed out following the 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United, the hat-trick hero was not short of help.

Yes, his three finishes were brilliantly, brutally dispatched. Jaden Philogene making and taking a trio of half-chances with a fearsome efficiency.

In front of an adoring home crowd, the Ipswich faithful understandably raved about Philogene after the £20 million January arrival announced himself at Portman Road, his was a scintillating solo performance. A first career hat-trick from a winger finally showing flashes of his Hull City pomp.

But, as Kieran McKenna and Darren Bent were at pains to point out, left-back Leif Davis more than played his part on a night when Sheffield United coach Ruben Selles stared unblinkingly into a throng of bloodthirsty Blades supporters sharpening their knives.

Kieran McKenna and Darren Bent hail Ipswich Town’s unsung hero Leif Davis

While there was to be no assist for a man who created the most goals in the Championship in his last season at this level – 18 across 2023/24 – it was Leif Davis who created the space Philogene needed to leave Ben Godfrey for dead and Michael Cooper grasping at thin air.

“We’ve worked really hard and [Philogene] has worked really hard in pre-season,” McKenna said after Ipswich’s Friday night filleting of a winless, pointless and potentially soon managerless Sheffield United.

“He arrived late [in January], had a big injury, so we’ve been working really hard with him, on that relationship with Leif Davis. There have a few good signs but he’s not had the end product. It’s about keeping consistent and trusting our process.

“Jaden got his rewards tonight and Leif had a big part in it. And delighted for Jack [Clarke] as well, coming on and getting a goal.”

Clarke, another big-money signing who has struggled to live up to his hefty price-tag, shrugged off Godfrey to complete the rout shortly after George Hurst nutmegged a hapless Cooper.

Bent, even from his position as an Ipswich icon, could not help but feel sympathy for a defender who has gone from Serie A giants Atalanta to the bottom of the Championship in a matter of weeks.

“I felt sorry for Ben Godfrey because [he was left] one v one with Philogene,” Bent adds. “What a finish [for his second goal]. Davis again makes that run, carbon copy [of the first]. Leif Davis, its an assist without an assist!

“We all know he’s had the ability but he’s showed the real versatility and the quality, and not just the goals by the way. The movement, the connection with Leif Davis, he really impressed me. He could have walked off the pitch with five!

“You lose Omari Hutchinson and then he puts in this type of performance, it’s a real positive. I love to watch him. On his game, he can be untouchable.”

Lee Hendrie thinks Ruben Selles’ Sheffield United era may be over

Bent saw Davis swing in one trademark ‘sensational’ delivery in the first-half. One which spun agonisingly out of Hirst’s reach.

This was a performance in which Davis’ was at his most effective off the ball, however. Those decoy runs down the flank making him the perfect foil for a winger who loves to cut inside and shoot.

“Quality, Leif Davis makes a magnificent run which just opens everything up for Jaden Philogene, and it’s an outstanding finish,” ex-Sheffield United midfielder Hendrie said after watching the Aston Villa graduate get off the mark.

“He’s so good, that versatility to come in on the right and left foot. Godfrey doesn’t know if he’s going to go on his right or his left. So having the talent Philogene has, he will cause any full-back problems, particularly [with] Leif Davis.

“Just looking at Ruben Selles, I think this could be trouble. This really could have kick-started the season – looks like it has done for Ipswich – but from a Sheffield United perspective, the second-half absolutely blew them away.

“That is a damaging, damaging result for Sheffield United and Ruben Selles.”