Cameron Burgess has impressed in the Premier League this seasonCameron Burgess has impressed in the Premier League this season (Image: Ross Halls)
Cameron Burgess
There’s been a lot of talk about Cameron Burgess lately.
Looking back at his games this season, it’s hard to find a poor performance. There are some where, against the best players in the world, he and the rest of the team have found life a bit harder, but he’s not the kind of player to make mistakes.
In fact, it’s easier to highlight his best moments. Big tackles, goal-line clearances, header after header after header. He’s been excellent.
There are a few reasons why he has only featured 11 times in the Premier League this season. The main one is Jacob Greaves.
Greaves started the season in exceptional form. He was one of Town’s best players in the first two or three months of the campaign. He then suffered a hamstring injury and hasn’t quite looked the same since.
Aerially, he’s exceptional, but he’s been shaky in possession and in tackles. In some games, he’s been a liability. When Kieran McKenna subbed him off at half time against Nottingham Forest, he revealed after the match that there was no injury – it was a tactical decision.
Greaves has a long-term future at Ipswich. He has a high ceiling and will probably be the first-choice left-sided centre-back at the club in the coming months and years. In the short-term, Burgess feels like the better option.
For all the on-pitch stuff, it’s important to remember Burgess’ background too, signing from Accrington Stanley and helping Ipswich earn back-to-back promotions to reach the Premier League.
In a season of change that hasn’t worked out, fans may appreciate having someone who’s been on this journey playing week in, week out. Town would probably look a bit more solid on the pitch too.
Ben Johnson has started just nine of Town's 29 league gamesBen Johnson has started just nine of Town's 29 league games (Image: Ross Halls)
Ben Johnson
Town’s Premier League signings, for the most part, have played regularly this season. Ben Johnson is one of the exceptions.
The first signing of the summer transfer window, his arrival was seen as a big coup. He helped West Ham win the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023 and the Hammers fought hard to keep him. Why did he choose to leave? He wanted to play regular football.
McKenna’s plans seemingly changed. The Town boss has preferred to play a natural centre-back at right-back, meaning that the attack-minded Johnson has mainly played as a wing-back or even a winger. Opportunities have been limited in those positions due to competition and formation issues.
It makes his signing a bit confusing. The red-hot form of Axel Tuanzebe has clearly played a part, but he’s out with a hamstring injury now. With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, there’s a chance that the former Manchester United man won’t be at Portman Road in 2025/26.
Johnson probably will, so why not give him a run at right-back? Yes, he played there earlier in the campaign and struggled to convince defensively, but he’s clearly improved a lot since then. Like Burgess, it’s hard to pick out more than one or two disappointing displays in the last few months.
It would also move Dara O’Shea out of the right-back role, which he doesn’t seem to particularly enjoy. Alternatively, the Blues could revert to a back five, where Johnson is the natural right wing-back option.
Whatever happens, he probably deserves more minutes in the final nine games. It would give him a platform to kick on heading into next season. He could be a great asset for Town in the coming months and years.
Jack Taylor has played just under 500 minutes in the top flightJack Taylor has played just under 500 minutes in the top flight (Image: Ross Halls)
Jack Taylor
Regardless of whether Ipswich remain in the Premier League, their midfield is in need of a revamp.
Town would love to keep Jens Cajuste, who has arguably been their top performer this season, but that will only happen if they stay up. The odds of him dropping to the Championship are slim to none – Napoli will receive a lot of good offers if he does return this summer.
Kalvin Phillips will surely return to Manchester City, even if the Blues avoid relegation. He’s played his part this season, but it’s tough to see his long-term future at Portman Road.
Sam Morsy turns 34 in September, and as brilliant as he’s been for Ipswich, he can’t play forever. Massimo Luongo, who will turn 33 in the same month, has played just 181 Premier League minutes from two starts and five cameos.
That leaves Jack Taylor, who’s 26 and now a senior Republic of Ireland international. Granted, he’s only started one league game this season, but he’s a regular off the bench, having played 476 minutes.
He’ll be better for the experience of playing in the top flight, which he can certainly take into next season. He hasn’t looked at all out of place at the level.
If Ipswich are in the Championship, he can play a big part in their bid to secure promotion. There will probably be a lot of change in midfield, with signings and departures expected.
Taylor can be a consistent figure in the squad, and giving him some more starts between now and the end of the season would put him in the best possible position for the 2025/26 campaign.
Cajuste and Phillips will probably continue as the first-choice midfielders in most games, but there are big question marks over their futures. The same cannot be said for Taylor.
George Hirst has scored twice for Town in 2025George Hirst has scored twice for Town in 2025 (Image: Ross Halls)
George Hirst
It would be brilliant if Ipswich managed to keep Liam Delap this summer, but with some of the best teams in Europe linked with a move, it looks unlikely.
The Blues lack depth up front at the moment. George Hirst is the only other no.9 currently at the club. Ali Al-Hamadi is performing well on loan at Championship side Stoke City, but the fact that Town listened to permanent offers for him in January suggests that there’s a chance he may not be in Suffolk next season.
Hirst will be, and if Delap does leave and Ipswich are relegated, he would be a great option to lead the line in the Championship. He clearly has a big part to play if they remain in the Premier League, too.
There are injury concerns, but he’s shown that his ability is there. He suits McKenna’s system and is a really confident finisher who has plenty of different strengths. He’s a mature centre-forward and now a Scotland international.
Delap has 10 Premier League goals to his name this season, contributing to more than a third of Ipswich’s total, but his form has dipped since the turn of the year. Since then, both he and Hirst have scored twice in all competitions. The difference? Delap has played 866 minutes, Hirst has played 270.
That’s not to say that Hirst is a better player than Delap – they are simply different – but perhaps he deserves some more starts based on his recent performances. McKenna isn’t afraid to choose him when both players are fully fit, having done so at Brentford back in October.
A few more Premier League goals would do him the world of good ahead of next season.