Kieran McKenna has cast doubt on the possibility of Manchester City loanee Kalvin Phillips playing for Ipswich Town again this season, but he's not ruling out a return to Portman Road for the next campaign.
The 29 year old midfielder's time has been plagued by injuries, and an Achilles problem is set to keep him out of the squad for the remaining fixtures against Leicester City and West Ham.
Despite being limited to just 14 starts in the top division due to fitness woes, McKenna praised Phillips for how well he integrated into the team.
McKenna reflected on Phillips' time at Ipswich: "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.
"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."
Phillips' injury struggles continued after a severe cut on his foot from a match against Tottenham, which required extensive treatment: "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."
McKenna acknowledges that there are numerous discussions to be had regarding squad development for the club's immediate return to the Sky Bet Championship.
"Everyone's focus, certainly mine and in and around the training group, has been around the games remaining. 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."
Ipswich striker Nathan Broadhead is anticipated to rejoin the squad on Sunday after being sidelined for four matches due to a thigh injury.
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