At the beginning of 2023, Ipswich Town Bristol Rovers was an eye-opening fixture in League One, with Tractor Boys a sleeping giant in the Third Division.
Now the two teams face each other in FA Cup Later today with the Gas still deep into the humble division as Ipswich now face the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League away from focusing on the twists and turns of the Premier League.
Kieran McKenna He will know his side cannot underestimate visitors Bristol, having been on the receiving end of a major cup upset early last year when non-league side Maidstone United came to town, with the minor side from Kent recording a massive 2-1 win.
However, with the main priority being the safety of the Premier League in Suffolk, it would not be surprising to see a number of first-team faces rested, with the hope that the reserve personnel selected can still deliver an outright victory.
The McKenna players can look forward to a rest against Bristol
The first switch could see Liam Delap left out of the starting line-up, with McKenna unwilling to overwork his main source of goals against League One opponents.
In fact, the former Manchester City player has been a mainstay of his manager's Premier League squad, and rightly so, as he has scored an impressive number of goals. Eight hits Along with his name is one of those constant appearances.
With Delap also aroused interest Chelsea This transfer window, he is unlikely to want to overexert himself against the Gas, knowing that injury could hamper a potential move away.
Other key faces such as Leif Davis could be given a rare holiday, as the former Leeds United left-back will start In every Premier League match available to him this season.
Returning to the lone striker position, there is one reserve player in Portman Road who could jump at the chance to start for Delap, with a view to trying to prove his importance to the cause and perhaps prevent Ipswich from feeling like they have to. He spent big millions in January this year on a new striker.
The “unreal” star who could shine for Delap
The striker in question here is Ali Al Hammadi, who is only average 13 minutes Of the English Premier League matches this season through 11 matches, zero Which has been started.
Delap's space in the starting line-up is as concrete as it can be, but Al Hammadi will still be frustrated by his lack of minutes, having impressed last season when he joined in January from League Two side Wimbledon.
The Iraqi international will shoot his home Four hits From 14 league games for the Tractor Boys when he was used late in games, with the former Dons man not struggling at all with the huge jump in quality from the fourth tier to the league just below the Premier League.
Once it is classified as “Unrealistic” A talent to watch by football analyst Tom Williams As he regularly launches them into the bottom of the Premier League, AFC Wimbledon could get a much-needed confidence boost against Inigo Calderon's men, knowing full well that he has what it takes to outscore teams. Bristol Rovers standards.
|
Al Hammadi's career goals scored by club |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
The club he played for |
Games played |
Goals were scored |
Helps |
|
Ipswich |
26 |
5 |
1 |
|
AFC Wimbledon |
48 |
27 |
8 |
|
Wycombe Wanderers |
13 |
1 |
0 |
|
Bromley |
10 |
3 |
0 |
|
Its source Transfer market |
|||
It is clear from the table above that there is a dangerous striker within Al Hammadi, as he has scored a devastating 27 goals for the Dons, while trying to prove his value to McKenna even as he begins to link up with one of the players. Get away loan.
He could be given that opportunity later today, with a positive performance from the forgotten 22-year-old perhaps making the Tractor Boys think twice before spending big money on targets like £30 million for the man, Igor JesusKnowing that they have competent cover for Delap who is already in the house.
