There is much talk in the press about Kayden Jackson and whether his future lies away from Portman Road. What do you think? Should he stay or should he go?
I’ll be brutally honest here, and say that I am still not entirely sure? He has blistering pace and averages 229 minutes per goal. Not bad, I guess, but not particularly good either for a so-called out and out striker. His twin striking partner James Norwood, for example, scores a goal every 174 minutes but there is more to being a forward than just scoring goals, I have to admit.
His distribution sometimes leaves a lot to be desired but he has improved in that department and improvement is key to his overall development as a top striker. I have acquired a love-hate relationship with the player. He gets into some great positions with his pace alone and then far too often fluffs his lines. The same can be said of Norwood, who far too often tries ridiculous attempts on goal when he has not got a cat in hells chance of scoring! Yes, you have to be a bit greedy to be a forward but you do have to use your nouse as well.
At 26 year of age, Jackson has still to reach his peak but at 5ft 11 inches he is not very tall so we cannot rely on his ariel ability to get us many goals. The rumour mill suggests that at least two Championship clubs have shown an interest in the player but much will depend on where they finish in the league? Brentford still has a chance of an automatic promotion place to the Premier, but Hull City could be joining us here in League One so there is still everything to play for.
On balance, I would probably prefer to keep Jackson but only if we cannot find someone who is a bit more prolific in the box and only if Freddie Sears cannot rekindle his form of old. In terms of football intellect, Sears is superior to the rest and has played at a higher level. Sadly, injuries have been his undoing of late but there is hope that next term he could be on fire again and that would be very good news for Ipswich Town football club.