Exclusive: Don Goodman reveals Ipswich Town factor he'd "completely forgotten" in new exciting claim | OneFootball

The Ipswich Town forward has been tipped to score goals for Kieran McKenna next term

Ipswich Town are gearing up to stake their claim for promotion to the Premier League next term.

Kieran McKenna’s side climbed from League One to the top-flight in consecutive years but suffered relegation to the Championship last season.

The Tractor Boys possess one of the second-tier’s most dangerous attacks, with Sammie Szmodics perhaps their fiercest operator.

His 2023/24 Championship campaign saw him net 27 goals and finish as the division’s top scorer, in a Blackburn Rovers side that narrowly avoided relegation.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit and former EFL striker, Don Goodman, believes that the Irish forward could be equally prolific for Ipswich next season.

Sammie Szmodics backed to recapture Blackburn Rovers form next season

“I was looking at Ipswich Town's squad for next season the other day, and I'd completely forgotten the firepower that they've got,” stated Goodman. “Particularly at Championship level.

“Despite losing Liam Delap, they’ve still got Conor Chaplin, Omari Hutchinson, Wes Burns, Jaden Philogene, Nathan Broadhead, Jack Clarke, Ali Al Hamadi and George Hirst.

“But Sammie Szmodics is the most important one. When he was last at this level in a pretty average Blackburn Rovers team, he scored an incredible number of goals and finished as the league's top scorer.

“So, I have absolutely no doubts whatsoever that he will score plenty for Ipswich Town next season.”

Ipswich Town have an arsenal of attacking options next season

Last time McKenna and Co. tackled the Championship, they arrived fresh from League One and as massive underdogs in the promotion battle.

Now, after a year in the top-flight, they come back to the second-tier as one of the favourites to challenge for the title.

As Goodman mentioned, Ipswich have the likes of Philogene, Clarke and Chaplin in their ranks, which already makes up one of the division’s best frontlines.

Adding Szmodics to that mix is almost unfair on the other 23 sides, who will struggle to put up much of a fight against that firepower.

The Irishman was one of the Championship’s deadliest ever marksmen in the 2023/24 campaign, single-handedly dragging Blackburn out of the relegation zone.

If McKenna can find a way to utilise Szmodics to full effect, his output could perhaps even heighten, with creative presences such as Clarke and Philogene providing him with chances.

The 29-year-old also forged 49 chances for his teammates throughout his last season with Rovers, which highlights Szmodics’ ability to create.

Competition will naturally be fierce at the top of the second-tier next season, but Ipswich’s attacking threat could put them in good stead to lead the pack.