Akpom: I'm Back Physically and Mentally in the Best Shape Possible
Tuesday, 25th Aug 2026 06:00 by Kallum Brisset
Town striker Chuba Akpom has revealed the sacrifices he made during the summer and highlighted his determination to succeed in his second season at Portman Road.
Following a season-long loan from Ajax, the Blues made Akpom’s deal permanent in May after promotion to the Premier League triggered an obligation to buy the forward for £7 million.
That was despite the 30-year-old having made only seven league starts, the most recent against Oxford United on New Year’s Day when he scored one of his two Championship goals last term.
But after signing a three-year deal in Suffolk, Akpom impressed during pre-season and was picked out for praise by incoming manager Gary O’Neil.
The former England youth international accepted his debut season at Town was far from his best, but spoke of his drive to ensure he has a part to play back in the top flight.
“During the off-season, I literally sacrificed my whole summer into making sure I’m in shape and making sure I’m mentally ready,” he said. “I knew that last season wasn’t the best one for me, so I wanted to use the whole summer to get ready for this pre-season.
“I felt like I’ve come back physically and mentally in the best shape possible. It’s been a good pre-season for me and I’m hoping to take that into the season.
“I went on a family holiday, but every morning at 7am I was up training. In the evening, when my kid’s gone to sleep, I was back in the gym training and I went on a training camp by myself.
“It’s not nice to leave your family back home and go on a training camp alone, but that’s the sacrifice that needs to be made. I was willing to make that to make sure I was coming back in good shape.
“For me, it gave me even more hunger because it’s a new manager that’s coming in. Everyone’s got a fresh start and he’s going to judge you by what he sees in training. I just came in with the most hunger that I could and I was ready to push.”
With the sale of triple promotion-winner George Hirst and the anticipated departure of Ali Al-Hamadi, Akpom is currently one of only two senior centre-forwards on the Blues’ books.
Emersonn is the other, with the young Brazilian marking his maiden Premier League appearance with a debut goal against Sunderland on Saturday.
Akpom said: “Ultimately, me and Emersonn are the two strikers competing at the moment, but we’re here to make the team better. As much as we’re competing, we’re also together because the end goal is for us to finish as high as we can in the Premier League.
“If me and him can both contribute to that, that’s a success. He’s a top guy, he’s a top, young talent, a different profile to me. I think we can both add what we can in our own ways.”
Town have left the number nine shirt vacant, with the club still looking to recruit a third striker before the summer transfer window comes to a close next Tuesday.
“It’s in the best interest of the club to make sure you have as much squad depth as possible because it’s the hardest league in the world,” Akpom continued. “If one player gets injured or something happens, you need as much depth as possible.
“It’s important to have different profiles. Me and Emersonn are different profiles and if they bring another striker in with a different profile, it’s always going to help the team get stronger.
“Who knows, in some games it could be two strikers up top. It could be mix and match like that. Whichever player comes in, I’m always going to be welcoming to that and willing to form a partnership and help the team become stronger.”
It was Jack Clarke’s 90th-minute strike that clinched victory against the Black Cats to hand the Blues a winning start to a top-flight season for the first time since 1993/94.
Akpom said: “It was a fantastic start. If they told you that we’re going to get a late winner and win the game, you take it all day.
“It’s definitely a step in the right direction, but it’s just a start. We still need to keep our feet on the ground and keep working.”
With the game poised after 66 minutes, Akpom replaced Emersonn from the bench and featured in a Premier League game for the first time in 11 years and 196 days.
That marked the second-longest gap between appearances in the division’s history, a figure only be eclipsed by Cristiano Ronaldo, who went more than 12 years between matches across his two spells at Manchester United.
“I heard about that over the weekend,” Akpom said. “I had a look over the last few seasons of my career and it’s been quite eventful.
“To end up back in the Premier League is amazing because usually you don’t go so long out of the Prem and end up coming back. To be here, still hungry and still ambitious, I’m really grateful for that.
“It’s been a long time. It feels amazing to be a part of the team. To come on at the weekend, put a shift in, and be on the pitch when we get the winner is fantastic as well. Definitely a good step for me.”
Attention shifts briefly to Town’s bow in this year’s Carabao Cup, when League One side Leicester City travel to Portman Road on Tuesday night for their second-round meeting.
In his first cup match in charge, O’Neil will be looking to guide the Blues into the third round for only the second time in 11 seasons.
On the importance of the competition, Akpom insisted: “Every game’s important because if we go and win our game, it’s only going to give us confidence going into the weekend. It gives the players that didn’t play at the weekend the chance to show what they can do, so it’s definitely important.
“Whatever you do, you’ve got to go for it. Even if it’s a friendly game, Carabao Cup, FA Cup, why be involved in it if you’re not going to compete and try to be the best?
“If it were in my hands, I’d love to get to the Carabao final. I’d love to finish in the top half of the Premier League. That’s why we’re here, we’re ambitious. We want to achieve that, and I think everyone should think alike. That’s definitely the goal for me.”
The Foxes’ visit also has the potential for both Wes Burns and Conor Chaplin to line up against their former side, with Town supporters given the chance to thank the duo for their roles in the club’s rise in recent years.
“Chappers is a fantastic player and an even better person,” Akpom said. “The first day I came to Ipswich, he was so welcoming, and I’m sure I can speak for most of the new players.
“Chappers is that type of guy, he’s just open, friendly, and, of course, Wes is the same. He’s been here for a while, an experienced player. As much as they’re good players, they’re even better people. I’m sure they’ll both receive an amazing welcome when they come to Portman Road.”
Photo: Matchday Images
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