As Paul Hurst has said on many occasions, a manager is ultimately judged not on performances but results and his reshuffle today is with a win in mind.
He was bold enough to say in his press conference that Dean Gerken would remain in goal at the expense of international Polish keeper Bartosz Bialkowski, and it is this vision and honesty that sets him apart from most managers.
Town visit Hull City at the KCOM Stadium this afternoon, and our manager is only too aware that he needs to get points on the board and quickly so that the fans stay onside. The trouble is Ipswich Town have not won there since the days of Jim Magilton way back in 2007 so let us hope that his belief that stats are there to be broken, rings true today.
The Tigers midfielder Jackson Irvine may return after missing the last two fixtures with an irritating thigh injury. He has been sadly missed and if Ipswich are struggling just now then so too are Hull, who find themselves just one point and two places above Town.
Tommy Elphick and Chris Martin are hopeful of making their debuts on Saturday for the home side, after joining on deadline day and they are unbeaten in 11 matches against the Blues – and in all competitions!
Cole Skuse looks likely to come back for the visitors and Matthew Pennington will resume his position alongside Luke Chambers in central defence. He made a splendid debut against arch-rivals Norwich and the travelling fans will be hoping for more of the same.
But Paul Hurst is likely to make more changes today and bring back into the side Ellis Harrison and the expense of Kayden Jackson with Trevoh Chalohbah returning to the midfield once again and of course, we now have Jonathan Walters up front and he will be eager to impress!
The bench might have a fresh look about it too and I would expect this time to see both Freddie Sears and Ben Morris on bench warming duties – along of course with Bart Bialkowski, who is probably in need of a rest after his World Cup adventure which has seen a dip in his form.
F.W. – Editor of Vital Ipswich
