'That comes after Sunday' - Ipswich to consider recall for Portsmouth loanee Conor Chaplin
Conor Chaplin remains a Fratton favourite but is yet to score in his 20 loan games to date for Pompey
Kieran McKenna said no talks have taken place about a potential Ipswich Town return for Conor Chaplin this month.
But the Tractor Boys boss left the door ajar for that exact possibility by admitting it will be something he will be considering once Sunday’s Championship fixture against Pompey at Fratton Park is out of the way.
Chaplin made an emotional return to the Blues at the end of the summer transfer window by joining his boyhood club on a season-long loan on deadline day.
At the time, the move was heralded as a great bit of business by the PO4 side. But 20 games into the attacking midfielder’s Pompey comeback, fans are still waiting to see the type of form that saw the 28-year-old win back-to-back promotions with Ipswich and feature 22 times in last season’s Premier League.
Indeed, the academy graduate is yet to register a goal for John Mousinho’s Championship strugglers, while he has just one assist to his name as he struggles to make his presence felt in a forward line that has the second lowest goal tally in the division.
Five of his Pompey appearance to date have also come from the bench.
Ipswich have early recall option in January
Following his Fratton Park return, it emerged that Ipswich had the option to recall Chaplin early from the south coast during the January transfer window.
His form and the Blues also often playing the attacker out of position on the right wing has facilitated talk about that possibility.
So it was only natural that McKenna was asked about Chaplin’s future when speaking to the media ahead of Ipswich’s game against Pompey on Sunday - a fixture the loanee is ineligible to play in.
In response, the Northern Irishman confirmed nothing had been discussed on the matter to date. But with a busy festive period of games coming to an end on Sunday, he admitted next week would provide the ideal opportunity to reassess the Tractor Boys’ plans for the remainder of the transfer window - and Chaplin’s future.
McKenna told the EADT: ‘There hasn't been any talks (about Chaplin specifically). I think assessments on what we want to do with the whole squad, ins or outs, balance of the squad, that comes after Sunday, to be honest.
‘Of course, the club's working hard behind the scenes, but there's been such a busy run of games. Things can always change.
‘We'll get past Sunday and then we'll sit down, we'll look at the four months since September and assess the group - where we think we could make any additions, where we might want to be a little bit tighter in the group.
‘And, of course, players who are on loan will be part of those discussions.’
Current state of play at Ipswich and Pompey
In Portman Road favourite Chaplin’s absence, Ipswich currently sit second in the Championship table and are on course to make an immediate return to the Premier League.
£10m summer signing Marcelino Nunez has made the No.10 position is own for Ipswich in recent weeks. Meanwhile, McKenna also has Chuba Akpom and Sammie Szmodics as current options he can call upon.
Pompey, who recruited three central attacking midfielders in the summer - Chaplin, Adrian Segecic and John Swift - go into Sunday’s game sitting fourth from bottom in the table and just one point from safety following their 5-0 hammering at Bristol City on New Year’s Day.
Chaplin didn’t start that game at Ashton Gate, ending a run of five consecutive starts for the Blues.
Mousinho has admitted exits are likely this month as he looks to recruit up to six players in January - but told The News on December 10 that he wanted to keep Chaplin beyond this month.
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