Ipswich Town chief Kieran McKenna has expressed doubts about on-loan Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips playing again for the team in the Premier League this season, but he's open to having him back at Portman Road next term.
The 29-year old's-time with Ipswich has been marred by a series of injuries, including an Achilles problem that is likely to keep him out of the squad for the remaining fixtures against Leicester City and West Ham United.
Despite the former Leeds United midfielder being limited to just 14 starts in the top flight due to fitness issues, McKenna praised Phillips' integration into the team.
"He arrived having not played much football for the couple of seasons before. If he had, he probably wouldn't have been at Ipswich this season," McKenna remarked during a press briefing.
"He has been a good person in the group and had a fairly stable run of games at the start of the season while he was still working to get back to his best form.
"It felt like in training and on match days he was getting to a good, consistent level. Then he got a big gash on his foot from the (Tottenham) game, required a lot of stitches and time off his feet.
"We managed to get him back in the squad, but he probably hasn't been fully fit or had a really good training base behind him.
"From there he has had a little problem with his Achilles and is not going to be available this weekend. Whether we can get him on the pitch before the end of the season is maybe unlikely at this point.
"In many ways I think frustrating for him and for us that we haven't been able to get him to his best as quickly as we could and utilise a really fully fit and confident Kalvin for more of the season because he would have been an addition to us."
While McKenna acknowledges there are numerous discussions to be had regarding squad development for the club's immediate return to the Championship.
"Everyone's focus, certainly mine and in and around the training group, has been around the games remaining," said the Ipswich manager. I have had very few conversations with many of the players about next season.
"Those conversations will take place maybe a little bit next week, certainly the few days after the season finishes with the players that are here, (and) the loan players about the future and we will see what comes."
Phillips has frequently been linked with an Elland Road return over the past 12 months. Central midfield is an area the Whites are expected to bolster in the summer transfer window, with loan star Joe Rothwell having returned to parent club Bournemouth.
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