Kieran McKenna is looking forward to returning to Old Trafford for the first time since leaving Manchester United for Ipswich Town back in December 2021. (More Sports News)
McKenna joined United in 2016 from Tottenham and rose through the academy ranks before being promoted to the♚ first-team coaching staff during Jose ඣMourinho's time in charge.
The 38-year-old spent time as an assistant to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and interim manager Ralf Rangnick,ಞ before moving to Portman Road and guiding Ipswich to back-to-back promotions to the Premier League.
Though Ipswi🐬ch have struggled in their first top-flight season since 2001-02, McKenna said his players were excited about the trip to Old Trafford this Wednesday.
"Iꦺt's a quick turnaround. There's a lot of work to be done in the next couple of days, but e🎃veryone is really excited," McKenna said.
"The opportunity to go and compete there in a league game is🐭😼 fantastic for the football club, for the group of players, and for the staff.
"It's a stadium that many of u♛s will have grown up watching football at and be inspired by. You want the p𒈔layers to feel nothing but excitement and good feelings towards the game.
"Of course, it's a difficult challenge as well, and we have to prepare for that, b🐎💖ut the overriding feeling in the building is excitement."
United, meanwhile, will aim t꧙o build on the momentum gained from their 2-2𒐪 draw with Everton, having battled from two goals down to claim a point at Goodison Park.
The Red Devils sit 15th in the Premier League table, but have failed to win at Old Trafford in the top-flight since a 𝄹3-1 victory over Southampton back on January 16.
Ruben Amorim has won just four of his 15 Premier League games in charge, wit🍎h just two of those victories coming in front of United's supporters since he ౠtook over.
"Since I arrived, I have been expecting to win all the games at home. I d🔯on't feel the pressure because I don't feel it - the supporters are amazing," Amorim said.&nbs💃p;
"Every time you go to Old Trafford you feel the su𝐆pport u🍃ntil the end. I don't feel the pressure, and we have to stop and think about the last game.
"It's a new game, and it could be a new story."
A꧑❀morim was also able to give an update on team news ahead of facing Ipswich, but said he would have the same players available from their clash with Everton.
"We have the same team. They are improving, but nobody is going to be recove♊red for this game,🌱" Amorim concluded.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Man United – Bruno Fernandes
In a disappointing♒ display against Everton, Fernandes continued to show why he is a key cog in United's team with a free-kick that sparked their turnar💎ound at Goodison Park.
In the Premier League this season, no player has created🐓 more chances for United 💧than Fernandes (55), while he is also the Red Devils' joint-top scorer in the top-flight with six goals. His creative spark will be needed once again to get Amorim's side back on track.
Ipswich – Omari Hutchinson
Hutch♛inson grabbed his first goal in five Premier League appearances with a 36th-minute effort against Tottenham, and he will be hoping to continue that momentum at Old Trafford.
He also scored the Tractor Boys'&nbs✅p;goal in their 1-1 draw with United in the reverse fixture – the last Ipswich player to score home and a𓆉way league goals against the Red Devils in a single campaign was Chris Kiwomya in 1992-93.
MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER UNITED WIN
United are unbeaten in🧸 their last seven home league games against Ipswich (W5 D2), winning each of the last three by an aggregate score of 15-0.
However, they have lost seven Premier League home games this season, with five of those coming in Amorim's seven in charge. They last losꦡt more at Old Trafford in a single league campaign back in 1962-63 (nine).
And the Red Devils' recent struggles have been down to slow starts. They haven't been ahead at half-time in any of their last 19 matches in all competitions, since leading 2-0ಌ against Everton in December. Indeed, in the Premier League this term only Leicester City (seven) have scored fewer first-half goals than the Red Devils (nine).
Ipswich, meanw♏hile, have kept just one clean sheet in their last 23 league games against Unitedಌ, which came in a goalless draw at Old Trafford in November 1993.
💞The Tractor Boys' last away league win against United was in May 1984 (2-1), which was the last occasion the Red Devils lost a home league game in which they led at half-time. They are since unbeaten in 388 such games since then (W355 D33).
Ipswich have also failed to win any of their seven Premier League games so far in 2025 (D2 L5), conceding an average of three goals per game this year. Only in 1970 (top-flight) and 19🦩90 (second tier) have they failed to win any of their first eight league games in a calendar year.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Man United – 60%
Draw – 20.8%
Ipswich – 19.2%
