Ipswich could regret signing for £30,000-a-year and can't get a game

It's been a rollercoaster ride this season Ipswich Town So far, with astonishing highs such as dramatic victories on the road against Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers, counterbalancing some dismal defeats in the league. Premier League.

Kieran McKennaThe men were thrashed 4-0 last time out by Newcastle United, with the likes of Alexander Isak for the visitors having a field day against a porous Ipswich defense that couldn't cope with the Magpies' incredible firepower.

While McKenna bemoaned the poor performances of Arijanette Murić and Dara O'Shea in the backline after this defeat – both of whom joined this summer – it has not been all doom and gloom on the transfer front, with some new recruits also settling into swimming.

Ipswich summer transfer business

There is an obvious place to start when it comes to positive new additions, and Liam Delap is undoubtedly Ipswich's biggest success of the many bodies that have entered the building.

McKenna certainly missed his powerful striker against Newcastle – with the former Manchester City striker unfortunately missing through suspension – considering the 21-year-old has fired home. Six hits In the Premier League..

Away from Delap, another summer purchase in the form of Sammie Szmodics has also shown flashes of his quality with Three hits piled up in the league, while Omari Hutchinson, who scored a memorable goal against Manchester United last month, also looked lively at times.

However, apart from those who have impressed up front, McKenna will continue to be let down by a number of new recruits at the back, with the Tractor Boys now reaching the Conceived 32 goals After Newcastle hit their leaky side for four.

He will clearly demand higher standards than the aforementioned Muric and O'Shea, but the Northern Irish manager will also want more from some of the reserve numbers he has secured. This includes Ben Johnson, who arrives with Premier League experience.

Johnson's time at Ipswich

Playing 78 times Back in the Championship when Johnson was on the books of his former employers West Ham United, he might have expected more playing time in Suffolk by now.

After all, McKenna had waxed lyrical about the 24-year-old when he put pen to paper on a free transfer to Portman Road, noting that the former Hammers man was a professional player. “excellent” An addition to the ranks of Ipswich after the glory of promotion.

“Ben is a player who fits the profile we want to bring to the club. He is a young, talented defender with good technical quality, as well as excellent physical attributes. Ben also has a wealth of Premier League experience for his age and age. He is hungry to take the next step in his career.” We feel that this is a good move for him and he is an excellent addition to the club.

However, it has been a hiatus for Johnson since he left Julen Lopetegui's team behind, with only Five starts Making his way up the league despite Ipswich's weaknesses in defense and previous knowledge of the tough division.

It could open the door to more games for Johnson, though when you consider Harry Clarke's atrocious afternoon against Newcastle, which saw the sub-par full-back give up the ball 13 times As a shaky option defensively.

Although he has taken fewer touches on average than his defensive counterpart this season, Johnson has an assist next to his name unlike Clarke, along with showing grit in his game that could be key for the Tractor Boys in their battle against relegation, with a win. With four confrontations. On average per Premier League competition.

But McKenna will want more from Johnson if he is put into the first team soon, considering he was once rated as a “Beautiful” By one of his former West Ham managers David Moyes when he was a consistent performer at the London Stadium.

If he doesn't succeed in adapting to Portman's way after all, then… £30,000 per week The defender will simply be viewed as merely a memorable player, with Ipswich left wondering why a deal that was praised upon his arrival has not fully settled. In fact, unless he found form and steadied himself to the side, they would wonder why they brought him here.