Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna SLAMS ‘nonsense’ rumours linking Kalvin Phillips with a January exit despite midfielder’s slow start to the season

Kieran McKenna has hit out at ‘nonsense’ rumours that Ipswich will cut short Kalvin Phillips’ loan spell in January.

Phillips, who has endured a difficult few years since joining Man City in 2022, moved to Portman Road for the season in an attempt to reignite his career.

The midfielder has had a mixed start to life with the Tractor Boys and one report claimed the club were considering their options.

But, speaking after Ipswich’s dramatic 4-3 defeat by Brentford, McKenna refuted this and threw his backing behind Phillips.

‘What can I say about that?’, he said. ‘Proper proper nonsense. You can write something and it gets picked up and becomes a story, absolute nonsense.

Phillips has had a mixed start and a report claimed Ipswich are considering their options

‘There have been no conversations of the like and it’s a real shame. He had a very good game today.’

Phillips started just two league games in 18 months for City, before he badly struggled at West Ham during the second half of last season.

This was a period that also saw the midfielder lose his England place, with Philips not called-up since November 2023.

But, as McKenna alluded to, Phillips showed promising signs against the Bees. Not only did his defence-splitting pass lead to Sammie Szmodics’ opener, but there was evidence of a promising midfield partnership with Jens Cajuste.

And, having started six of their last seven matches – more than he managed in the past two seasons combined – Ipswich will need all of Phillips’ quality and know-how if they are to survive with a squad that is short of Premier League experience.