Who could step in and lead the line for the Blues? Alex Jones takes a look at the options...
Ali Al-Hamadi has started just one league game for Ipswich since joining back in JanuaryAli Al-Hamadi has started just one league game for Town since joining back in January (Image: Ross Halls)
Ali Al-Hamadi
The only out-and-out striker that Ipswich have available for Saturday’s game, Ali Al-Hamadi is the obvious pick on paper.
If you have a fit no.9, you should play them in that role. Al-Hamadi certainly ticks that box and is the closest profile to what Kieran McKenna wants leading the line.
He’s physical and hard working. He can hold the ball up and bring others into play, while also being a threat in the box. There is, of course, a big caveat.
While most of Town’s squad have jumped up from League One to the Premier League via the Championship in three full seasons, Al-Hamadi hasn't. He went straight from League Two into the second tier, and sixth months later, he found himself in the top flight.
On January 1st, 2024, he scored for AFC Wimbledon away at Forest Green in League Two. Just over seven months later, he was coming on against Liverpool in the Premier League. It’s a great story, but a huge ask for him on a weekly basis.
After seven cameo appearances and 67 minutes of football at the level, is the 22-year-old ready to start a game of football against an experienced side? It would be a tough battle for him against Fabian Schär and Dan Burn, who have played 360 Premier League games between them.
McKenna clearly has faith in the Iraq international and he’s done well off the bench so far, but that's been against tired legs. Sustaining his performance levels for at least an hour against fresh defenders is another matter entirely.
Sammie Szmodics started 11 games as a striker for Blackburn Rovers last seasonSammie Szmodics started 11 games as a striker for Blackburn Rovers last season (Image: Ross Halls)
Sammie Szmodics
Sammie Szmodics is versatile. A natural no.10, McKenna has used him on the left for Ipswich so far this season. He plays narrow and pops up in little pockets of space, allowing for Leif Davis to overlap next to him.
He can, however, play up front. This isn’t just a throw-away comment, it’s not like this is from his days in Colchester’s academy at the very start of his youth career. No, Szmodics has played in that position recently and regularly.
In the Championship last season, he was asked to lead the Blackburn line 11 times, scoring six goals.
Funnily enough, Szmodics also played there during Rovers’ FA Cup clash against Newcastle at Ewood Park back in February. His side lost that game on penalties, but he scored the equaliser shortly after Anthony Gordon put the visitors ahead.
The Magpies played a full-strength team in that game, so it’s a suitable marker to judge the 29-year-old’s performance. He had nine shots, five of which hit the target giving him an xG on target (xGOT) of 1.72. A similar display this time around would be fantastic.
There are other benefits. It would allow Jack Clarke to come in for another start after his much-improved cameo against Wolves. It would also create a very fluid front line where any of the attackers could drop into pockets of space around the box.
So, what’s the issue? He’s not a McKenna striker. He’s not tall, he’s not overly strong and he can’t hold up the ball. He’s certainly different to Delap and that would take some adjusting to.
Nathan Broadhead has made just two cameo appearances for Ipswich in the Premier LeagueNathan Broadhead has made just two cameo appearances for Ipswich in the Premier League (Image: Ross Halls)
Nathan Broadhead
Here we are again. Just under a year ago, we were having the same discussion about Nathan Broadhead and the striker role. We learned lot from that.
For those who don’t remember, George Hirst injured his hamstring in the Boxing Day draw against Leicester City in 2023. Ipswich had a real lack of depth up front at that point, meaning that they had to find alternatives before signing Al-Hamadi and Kieffer Moore in the January transfer window.
With Freddie Ladapo struggling to hit the mark, Kayden Jackson was the preferred option, although Broadhead also had opportunities to lead the line. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work out.
It goes without saying that he has the same shortcomings as Szmodics. He isn’t tall enough or powerful enough to be the striker that McKenna wants. During his run in the team as a no.9, he found it really hard. If it didn’t work in the Championship, why would it work in the Premier League?
Well, it’s worth noting that Broadhead was struggling for form anyway at that point last season. He was clearly low on confidence and finding it hard to be clinical in front of goal. It took a few weeks for him to shake it off, but he managed it.
Using a small sample size of two short cameos against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, he looks sharp and hungry for more minutes. This game against Newcastle, with Delap out of the picture, could provide him that opportunity.
As a striker, though? I doubt it.
Conor Chaplin has played down the idea of starting up front for the BluesConor Chaplin has played down the idea of starting up front for the Blues (Image: PA)
Other options
I asked Conor Chaplin about the prospect of filling in up front earlier this month, given that he’s played there before. However, he was quick to shoot it down.
“I think my days are done up front, mate,” he laughed. “Ask the boss, but I don’t think he’s going to play me up front!
“It’s not really the profile that we’ve used over the last three years. We’ve got profiles for positions in our team. I don’t think it’s something that I can play.
“I’d love to play there! I have done for a lot of time, but I also haven’t done for a long time as well. It’s not really a profile match.”
The same could probably be said for Wes Burns, who McKenna has previously referred to as a potential no.9 due to his experience in the role earlier in his career. The odds of us seeing that in the Premier League are slim, however.
Alternatively, Ipswich could change systems to play without a designated centre-forward. A back five, for example, would surprise Newcastle and give the Blues extra protection against the likes of Gordon and Alexander Isak. Szmodics, Chaplin and Omari Hutchinson would be able to rotate in the front three to do some real damage.
That’s unlikely, however. McKenna will almost certainly want a set striker in his starting lineup.
The Blues are expected to strengthen their attack in the January transfer windowThe Blues are expected to strengthen their attack in the January transfer window (Image: PA)
Conclusion
For me, this is a toss-up between Al-Hamadi and Szmodics. Although the former ticks more of the boxes for a McKenna no.9, it’s hard to look past the latter.
Szmodics has a track record as a striker playing at a high level. His goal return is really good and he’s played in that role against the very team that Ipswich are coming up against this weekend.
Yes, there are issues to overcome, but a free week on the training pitch will be a huge help.
Al-Hamadi, on the other hand, is more of a risk. That was the case in the Championship - where his only start came in a frustrating 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough - and also in the Premier League.
We’ve seen plenty of positives from him off the bench in the last few weeks, more than enough to show that he can contribute at this level. His time will come, but Szmodics makes more sense for Saturday’s big game.