The Blues secured back-to-back promotions to earn a place in the top flight for 2024/25, but they were relegated at the first time of asking, and most of the players who were part of the journey have now moved on.
Town do, of course, boast a strong squad, but McKenna doesn’t think that they have the experience edge, putting them in a similar position to promotion rivals Middlesbrough and Millwall, who are fighting to achieve the same goal.
That being said, he feels that his side can handle the pressure of the run-in, motivated to get over the line in the sprint to the finish post-international break.
Ipswich Town celebrate promotion to the Premier League two years ago - but there aren't many remaining players from that side (Image: Newsquest)
“I think our squad's really different, if we're honest,” he said, reflecting on this season and the last promotion campaign.
“There isn't a huge proportion of the group that have been here for those experiences. The group's going through a lot of new things together.
“It's a new group of players. Of course, there's staff and people around the building. We'd like to think we have some good experiences of things that have worked well previously, but it's about the here and now."
The Blues start their race to the finish with a home game against Birmingham City a week today on Easter Monday. They play eight matches in 27 days to end the season.
Wes Burns is one of a handful of players left from the 2023/24 promotion season (Image: PA)
McKenna continued: “This is a group that are fighting for something really special. A lot of them are fighting for it for the first time.
"As a club, we're fighting for something that has happened once in the last 25 years in terms of trying to get to the Premier League.
“I think it's a really good thing there to fight for.
“Of course, you can say pressure, but it's the type of pressure that you want. You work all season and fight to be in the mix for your goals, and we are.
“So, we know there's a lot to do and it's going to be tough, but it's we’re at the end of the table that we want to be and competing for what we want.
“We have to go for it with everything and we have to remember to try and enjoy it as well, because there's going to be an exciting end of the season and we're fighting for what we want to be fighting for.”