Ipswich Round-Up, Friday 30th October: O'Neil Previews Tricky Trip to Hull as Lukic Doubt Lingers
All roads lead to Hull this weekend, with Gary O'Neil fronting up the media on Friday to preview Saturday's Premier League trip to the MKM Stadium. The boss used his press conference to touch on everything from team news to the slightly more light-hearted topic of players wearing gloves on the pitch (East Anglian Daily Times) (Ipswich Star) (East Anglian Daily Times).
The biggest team news item surrounds Sasa Lukic, with O'Neil giving an update on the midfielder's fitness ahead of the trip to East Yorkshire (East Anglian Daily Times) (ITFC.co.uk). It sounds as though a decision could go either way, with the manager keeping his cards fairly close to his chest in the build-up (Ipswich Star). Elsewhere, Sports Mole have pulled together the wider injury and suspension picture for both sides ahead of kick-off, while ITFC.co.uk have also run through the early team news from the Hull camp (Sports Mole) (ITFC.co.uk).
O'Neil was keen to stress just how difficult a test this will be, warning that Hull are "hard-working" and shouldn't be "underestimated by anyone" given what they can produce on their day (Ipswich Star) (ITFC.co.uk). It's a timely reminder that away trips away from Portman Road are never straightforward, particularly against sides who make life uncomfortable for visitors.
On selection, O'Neil was candid about the headaches a fit squad brings, admitting "we need them all" when discussing the main calls he has to make and the tough task of leaving players out of his matchday squad (East Anglian Daily Times). It's a nice problem to have, but it does mean some players who might expect to feature will have to make do with a place among the substitutes or out of the squad entirely this weekend.
Away from the first team, David Wright has also been speaking ahead of a Watford test, giving his thoughts on the challenge that lies ahead there (ITFC.co.uk). No further detail was given on the nature of that fixture, but it suggests there's plenty going on behind the scenes at the club this week beyond just the senior squad's preparations for Hull.
In a lighter moment from his press duties, O'Neil shared his thoughts on whether Town's players should be wearing gloves out on the pitch during these colder autumn months, a topic that always seems to divide opinion among supporters (East Anglian Daily Times). It's the kind of detail that shows the manager is happy to engage with the smaller talking points as well as the serious business of preparing for a big away day.
All eyes now turn to Saturday afternoon, with Town looking to pick up a positive result away from home against a Hull side well warned by their own manager not to be taken lightly (Ipswich Star) (ITFC.co.uk).
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