Not everything was rosy come the full-time whistle for Ipswich Town away at Aston Villa last weekend, with Julio Enciso’s injury against Unai Emery’s men looking rather serious.
Unfortunately, the Paraguayan attacking midfielder would look visibly emotional when having to hobble off the pitch after just 17 minutes, with a knee injury suffered by the loanee in the same knee that had required surgery when back at parent employers Brighton and Hove Albion.
Whilst everyone at Portman Road waits with bated breath over how severe of a setback this might be – amid claims that he is set for a spell on the sidelines – Kieran McKenna will be tasked with placing someone else into his XI up next down the left flank with some options at his disposal.
McKenna’s attacking alternatives
Enciso was also of use to McKenna away from just bolstering the left-hand side of his team, with the South American also offering Ipswich another body capable of playing as a number ten alongside Omari Hutchinson.
Hutchinson-Leif-Davis-Ipswich
Without Enciso, the popular Ipswich manager will have to put his faith in alternative faces, with Jack Clarke the preferred option off the bench last time out in the unfortunate 21-year-old’s place.
The ex-Sunderland man has shown flashes of his brilliance this season – with two assists coming his way in the Premier League – but he failed to spark into life against the Villans, having also been hauled off when the Tractor Boys were reduced to ten men.
There are also the likes of Sammie Szmodics and Nathan Broadhead who McKenna could throw into action here, alongside flashy new recruit Jaden Philogene-Bidace.
However, both Szmodics and Broadhead have battled with their own injury issues so far this season, whilst Philogene remained rooted to the bench at Villa Park having endured three goalless games so far in Suffolk.
Therefore, the Northern Irishman could be prepared to think outside of the box to fill in for Enciso, with this 20-year-old gem in question having the potential to be the club’s next Hutchinson.
Ipswich’s wildcard Enciso replacement
The unconventional route explored by McKenna here could see him look towards the U21 squad as one unusual star continues to stick out.
Indeed, not every footballer attempting to cut their teeth in the men’s game has an Eton-based education to hand, but that is the case when it comes to 20-year-old prospect Tudor Mendel-Idowu.
