Ipswich Town are 12 games into the Premier League campaign. Stuart Watson looks at the roles each member of a 27-man squad has played so far.
LEIF DAVIS
Minutes played: 1,080
Three-lunged, Geordie left-back is the only man to have played every minute of every Premier League game for Town so far.
Attacking output remains impressive in the top-tier. Two assists so far – run and pass set Liam Delap on the way against Fulham, a delicious deep delivery for Delap’s expert finish at Brentford – and that number could easily be higher given he’s created nine big chances (the most of any defender in the league). Sublime volleyed finish against Leicester deserved to have been the winner.
There have been some tough tests against the likes of Mo Salah, Savinho and Jarrod Bowen, but defensively he continues to improve.
Blues fans were relieved when he recently put pen to paper on a new four-year deal. Must be on the radar of new England boss Thomas Tuchel.
ARO MURIC
Minutes played: 990
A rollercoaster start to life at Town for the big Kosovan keeper.
After arriving in an £8m deal from Burnley, the 26-year-old missed the season-opener against Liverpool with a calf injury, produced an error-strewn debut at his former club Man City and had a brain fart for Brentford’s gut-punching late winner at the Gtech Stadium.
The good, I think, has outweighed the bad though. His Man-of-the-Match display at Brighton secured a 0-0 draw, he pulled off some smart saves in the win at Tottenham and is commanding his box aerially.
Distribution and communication look like two areas for improvement. There were some teething issues with Vaclav Hladky last season too, remember.
SAM MORSY
Minutes played: 985
He’s 33 and played in the EFL all his career. The uninitiated, however, would think he was a Premier League stalwart.
Salvaged a big point at Southampton with a stoppage-time strike from the edge of the box and produced a super assist for Davis’ goal against Leicester.
Has adapted to playing with two different types of midfield partner and expertly walked a disciplinary tightrope since picking up his fourth booking in late September.
Evergreen skipper was outstanding in Sunday’s draw with Man United. Continues to set the standards on and off the pitch.
OMARI HUTCHINSON
Minutes played: 968
Kieran McKenna has got hold of a street footballer and added so many extra strings to his bow. The England U21 international arrived able to dribble, shoot and excite. In the Championship, he learnt to press and tackle. Now, at a higher level, his decision-making, positional nous and final execution is improving in front of our eyes.
There were some quieter games as he adapted to the Premier League and a new right-sided No.10 role, but his recent performances have hit new heights. Cleverly helped Town see out the win at Spurs and scored a stunning equaliser against United last weekend.
Club-record £18m fee paid to sign him permanently from Chelsea increasingly looks a bargain.
LIAM DELAP
Minutes played: 865
How fun has this one-man wrecking ball been to watch? A proper throwback striker who crashes into centre-backs, drives with ball and unleashes venomous strikes.
Hasn’t looked back after getting Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah subbed on the opening day. Charged upfield and smashed in his first Premier League goal against Fulham, almost repeated the feat at Brighton, sent Diego Costa for a hot dog when scoring a brace against Villa (which could easily have been a hat-trick), shrugged off Lucas Pacqueta to hammer home at West Ham, netted a poacher’s finish at Brentford and then cracked the post from an outrageous position at the death, was Johnny on the spot at Tottenham and bullied Christian Romero, while two point blank saves from Andre Onana prevented him adding to his six-goal tally against Manchester United last Sunday.
Already, the 21-year-old is being talked about as the natural successor to Harry Kane in the England team. Again, the £15m paid to Man City looks a snip.
DARA O’SHEA
Minutes played: 783
Signed late in the transfer window and didn’t make his debut until the 0-0 draw at Brighton on September 14.
Took a little while to fully up to speed. His weak clearing header led to Everton’s opener at Portman Road, while he spurned a glorious headed chance at 0-0 against Leicester.
Irish international, who has been playing with a back fracture, has been imperious of late though. Has a good turn of pace, is strong in the air and revels in putting his body on the line. Love how he celebrates big blocks and tackles.
AXEL TUANZEBE
Minutes played: 695
Former Manchester United man is perfectly suited to the tucked in right-back role that Town play. The pick of some consistently solid performances was when he completely nullified Kaoru Mitoma at Brighton.
For the first time in years, he was rattling out games. Then disaster struck. A freak washing up accident left him fearing he may lose his thumb. He only missed four games following major surgery though. Now back playing with a restrictive cast, he’s been excellent against Spurs and United.
Part of the squad’s ‘leadership group’, his experience at an elite level is proving vital.
JACOB GREAVES
Minutes played: 630
Having gained a lot of experience at boyhood club Hull, Greaves decided it was time to step up after being named in the Championship Team of the Year.
The 24-year-old immediately endeared himself with Blues fans with a crunching challenge on Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai in the early stages of an impressive debut.
Continued to take to the Premier League like a duck to water. The only blot on his copy book has been the poor clearance that led to Morgan Rogers’ goal for Villa, but he’s been an absolute monster in the air.
Was a real shame when a hamstring injury struck in early October. Is available again now having missed the last five games.
SAMMIE SZMODICS
Minutes played: 610
Another who signed late following lengthy negotiations with Blackburn.
Incredible goalscoring form of last season has continued. Netted minutes into his debut at Man City, opened the scoring at Brentford with another cool finish and then scored that iconic overhead kick at Tottenham.
He’ll probably be frustrated he hasn’t scored more (there was a big opportunity for 3-0 at Brentford that proved crucial).
Can go long periods without touching the ball, but works his socks off in the inside left forward role and is always looking to get in behind. Clearly relishing every moment following his snakes and ladders climb up the pyramid.
KALVIN PHILLIPS
Minutes played: 542
The 31-cap England international has spoken honestly about wanting to rebuild his fitness and confidence following a difficult couple of years in which his stellar career has stalled.
His performances have been a mixed bag. There have been plenty of signs of his physicality and vision, but also the odd sloppy moment.
A couple of minor injuries, repeated international breaks and a controversial sending off against Leicester have not helped him build that much needed match rhythm. Currently has a job on his hands breaking up the midfield partnership of Morsy and Jens Cajuste.
WES BURNS
Minutes played: 493
Welsh winger gave Liverpool’s Andy Robertson plenty to think about on the opening day, but had to leave the field with a hamstring injury.
He’s been in and out of the team since returning to fitness in mid-September. Poor touch in the box led to Iliman Ndiaye’s opener for Everton, while he was knocked over too easily in the build-up to Leicester late leveller.
Returned to the starting XI last Sunday and provided an incisive assist for Omari Hutchinson’s goal. Pace remains a weapon at this level.
CAMERON BURGESS
Minutes played: 450
It looked like a cornerstone of the two promotion seasons may be destined for limited game time this season following the arrival of Greaves.
The latter’s injury opened the door in the left-sided centre-back slot though and Burgess was more than ready when called upon.
Former Accrington man hasn’t looked out of his depth at all. He’s made some huge blocks and goalline clearances. There’s certainly no need to take any unnecessary risks with Greaves’ return to action.
BEN JOHNSON
Minutes played: 401
Looked like he would be the nailed on right-back after turning down a new long-term deal at West Ham to join Town on a free. It hasn’t worked out that way though.
With Burns injured, he made his debut in an inverted right-wing role at Man City and set up Szmodics for the opener with a well-weighted through ball.
When the right-back door opened, he had a game to forget back at the London Stadium. Off the back of that he suffered a minor thigh injury in training.
Quietened those who’d prematurely written him off with a fine comeback display against Leicester, then helped keep Son Heung-min quiet when deployed as a right wing-back at Spurs.
JACK CLARKE
Minutes played: 370
Alice band, baggy shorts, socks rolled down, ball glued to his feet. Clarke's been fun to watch whenever's he's got on the field.
He came close to curling in a late winner against Fulham, set-up Delap at Brentford, weaved through the Everton box only to have a penalty award overturned by VAR and combined sharply with Conor Chaplin late on against United last weekend. He did fire a golden chance over early on against the Toffees though.
The best ball carrier at the club, he has very different attributes to Szmodics. McKenna will decide when's best appropriate to deploy the signing from Sunderland's talents.
LUKE WOOLFENDEN
Minutes played: 377
Started the opening three Premier League games and could feel hard done by to have lost his place after a solid performance against Fulham.
Since then, the Ipswich boy has featured just once, coming in for the home loss to Everton when O’Shea had to shuffle over to right-back for a match.
Can’t afford to let his head drop. After some dark days in League One, he’s in the Premier League with his hometown club. Chance will come again.
JENS CAJUSTE
Minutes played: 334
Swedish international initially had to be patient with Morsy and Phillips paired in midfield. A minor knee injury set him back too.
Napoli loanee has really taken his chance in recent weeks though. He’s got a good mix of athleticism and composure. Last-ditch slide tackle on Alejandro Garnacho really got the blood pumping at Portman Road.
This a player who the reigning Serie A champions signed just last summer, remember. He played against Barcelona and Real Madrid in the Champions League last season.
There’s a real fight for those two midfield spots.
CONOR CHAPLIN
Minutes played: 286
McKenna’s desire to play Hutchinson in the No.10 role means game time has been limited for the talisman of back-to-back promotions.
Chaplin is pushing himself and others hard behind the scenes though. Proved he is ready to be called upon with some lively performances against Brentford and Leicester. Got an assist when wearing the captain’s armband at the Gtech and it’s still baffling as to how he wasn’t awarded a penalty against the Foxes.
Still has a huge role to play on and off the pitch.
CHIEDOZIE OGBENE
Minutes played: 239
Ireland’s Player of the Year showed glimpses of his running power in home starts against Fulham and Aston Villa, only to suffer a season-ending Achilles injury at Brentford. Heartbreaking for him and a blow for Town.
GEORGE HIRST
Minutes played: 175
Poor George just can’t catch a break.
Missed a big chunk of the second half of last season following hamstring surgery, but returned to play a key role in the final week of the promotion campaign.
Suffered a knee injury in the final stages of pre-season, but returned to provide a goal and an assist on his full Premier League debut at Brentford.
A knee injury sustained in the latter stages of the win at Tottenham means he’ll be sidelined for ‘weeks and weeks’ again.
It leaves McKenna short of out-and-out striker options.
JACK TAYLOR
Minutes played: 153
The fact he hasn’t started a domestic game yet this season but still been handed his Republic of Ireland debut tells you everything about Taylor’s sub displays.
Midfielder has injected real energy whenever called upon from the bench. McKenna has labelled the 26-year-old ‘a really good role model for the group’.
MASSIMO LUONGO
Minutes played: 144
Key figure in the back-to-back promotions started the opening two games against Liverpool and City.
The arrivals of Phillips and Cajuste have pushed him down the pecking order though. His role now looks to be to come on and use his experience to help see results out.
HARRY CLARKE
Minutes played: 96
Limited pre-season after undergoing surgery on his two troublesome Achilles back in May.
Endured a nightmare, if a little unfortunate, full Premier League debut at Brentford. Couldn’t do much about the ‘own goal’ (which was later accredited to Yoann Wissa) and seemingly got the ball when shown a second yellow card. Did give away a clumsy penalty in between those two moments though (albeit VAR shouldn’t have intervened).
May have to wait a while for his next outing given Tuanzebe and Johnson are ahead of him in the right-back pecking order.
CHRISTIAN WALTON
Minutes played: 90
Starred in the League One promotion campaign, got injured last summer and then couldn’t get back in the team ahead of Vaclav Hladky.
It was roles reversed on the opening day of this season as a Muric injury opened the door for him. Walton produced an excellent display against Liverpool, but was immediately dropped for the fit-again new man.
Cornish keeper can’t be too upset as he signed a new two-year contract in September. Town are fortunate to have such a good back-up.
ALI AL-HAMADI
Minutes played: 41
Has gone from playing in League Two for AFC Wimbledon to becoming the first Iraqi to play in the Premier League in the space of seven months.
Will have been proud to have come on against Liverpool, the club he supports.
Underwent groin surgery in May and has made a huge jump up. Big ask for him to be the only back-up to Delap. If Town can sign a striker in January, a loan spell might be best for the 22-year-old's development.
CONOR TOWNSEND
Minutes played: 1
Experienced left-back arrived from West Brom knowing he’d have to patiently back-up Leif Davis.
Played in the League Cup loss at AFC Wimbledon and made a late cameo in midfield at Brentford.
NATHAN BROADHEAD
Minutes played: 0
Welsh attacker suffered a calf injury in the first week of pre-season, returned to training in the middle of September but hasn’t had a look in.
With Szmodics and Clarke sharing the minutes in his left-sided role, you do wonder if the 26-year-old could depart in January to create space for a fresh recruit.
CIERAN SLICKER
Minutes played: 0
Third-choice keeper was recently called up to Scotland’s senior squad. Club think so highly of the 22-year-old former Man City youngster that they recently handed him a new four-year contract.
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