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Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has been named the Championship manager of the month for September.
After a slow start to life back in the second tier at Portman Road, the Tractor Boys began to find momentum in September, claiming seven points from a possible nine to stay unbeaten, including a 5-0 demolition of Sheffield United, a 2-1 win over Portsmouth and a 1-1 draw under the lights at Bristol
McKenna said there were “quite a few knocks and issues” following the Norwich game but the break had given those not on international duty time for treatment.
His entire squad was not due back until Wednesday afternoon, so there will only be a short time for him to get everyone together again before the trip to Teesside.
“It’s given us time with some individuals to work a little bit more
When Ipswich won 2-1 at Wolves in December through Jack Taylor’s last-gasp header – which ended Gary O’Neil’s managerial reign at Molineux – they moved three points above Wolves.
Town were still third bottom at the time, but just a point behind Crystal Palace, while second-bottom Wolves were four adrift of safety.
Fast forward five months and defeat at Portman Road leaves them needing one of the greatest of escapes.
Celtic have held talks to re-sign their former defender Kieran Tierney on a pre-contract deal from Arsenal.
The 27-year-old left Celtic in 2019 for a reported £25m fee but Arsenal are ready to let him leave at the end of his contract, with his career in English football having been blighted by injuries.
Amid interest from Celtic and a host of other clubs in Europe, it remains unclear whether Arsenal
It is not only the fans who have been stunned by the club’s progress, but the players too.
Left-back Leif Davis joined Ipswich from Leeds in 2022 and has been integral in Town’s success.
“It’s hard to take in considering where we were two years ago,” he said. “When I came, they said, ‘We’d love to be established in the Championship in four years’.
“That seemed realistic, but getting to
QPR boss Marti Cifuentes, speaking to BBC Radio London:
“Not the result we wanted. We’re here to win games and it’s only a draw.
“Especially the way we started the game, you can say it’s a positive reaction from the team.
“We start losing after three minutes and Ken (Paal) gets injured.
“We have been creating a lot of chances, what has been missing is in the final third, that’s
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe says he has been “surprised” by reports that Kieran Trippier wants to leave the club.
The 33-year-old England international was an unused substitute in the Magpies’ 1-0 win against Southampton on Saturday.
Howe said Trippier “continues to be really valued” by the club.
“The situation is business as usual, Tripps has trained really well this week. I’m surprised by a lot of the stories
Analysis – Nick Mashiter, senior football news reporter
The new deal will make McKenna one of the best paid managers in the Premier League, just a year after he won promotion to the Championship from League One.
It also provides security for Ipswich as the compensation for him and assistant Martyn Pert will increase, having previously been around £4m.
The Tractor Boys have barely put a foot wrong, acknowledging the
Kieran McKenna is expected to sign a new deal to remain as Ipswich Town manager after guiding the club to the Premier League, reports BBC Radio Suffolk.
The 38-year-old had been on Chelsea’s shortlist of names to replace Mauricio Pochettino, and was also linked with the vacancy at Brighton.
It was understood last week that McKenna would reject a new contract at Portman Road.
But after he dropped out of
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna is no longer in contention to become Chelsea’s next manager.
The 38-year-old was on an early shortlist of candidates to replace Mauricio Pochettino after he left the club by mutual consent last week.
The leading remaining candidates are former Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi, Leicester’s Enzo Maresca and Brentford’s Thomas Frank.
Former Manchester United assistant manager McKenna, who led Ipswich to promotion from the Championship,