Ipswich Town’s recent match against Aston Villa ended on a sour note as Julio Enciso suffered a worrying knee injury just 17 minutes into the game.
The Paraguayan midfielder, on loan from Brighton, had to be substituted, leaving the team and fans anxious about the severity of the setback.
With Enciso potentially sidelined, manager Kieran McKenna must now find a replacement to fill the void on the left flank.
McKenna’s Options
McKenna has several attacking alternatives to consider. Jack Clarke, who replaced Enciso against Villa, has shown glimpses of his talent this season with two Premier League assists but struggled to make an impact in the last match. Other options include Sammie Szmodics, Nathan Broadhead, and new signing Jaden Philogene-Bidace. However, Szmodics and Broadhead have faced injury issues, while Philogene has yet to score in his three appearances for Ipswich.
A Wildcard Solution
McKenna could look to the U21 squad for an unconventional solution in 20-year-old Tudor Mendel-Idowu. The former Chelsea academy star, who studied at Eton, has been making waves in Ipswich’s U21 team. Mendel-Idowu scored 13 goals in 35 U18 appearances at Chelsea and has continued his impressive form with Ipswich’s U21s, netting three goals in their last six games.
Back in the day these players were on a school programme called Gifted & Talented – Meet Tudor Mendel-Idowu
The Chelsea youngster is currently a 3rd year at Eton College as a King’s Scholar. He was handing out a lesson in 1v1 attacking today v Spurs 😮💨https://t.co/XuMaxxaRph pic.twitter.com/5svqqYrGXZ
— TheSecretScout (@TheSecretScout_) November 19, 2022
Described by U23 scout Antonio Mango as having “electrifying acceleration” and “fearless charisma,” Mendel-Idowu could follow in the footsteps of Omari Hutchinson, another Chelsea graduate who has excelled in Ipswich’s senior team this season. Like Enciso, Mendel-Idowu is versatile, capable of playing on either wing or as a number ten, making him a potential wildcard option for McKenna.
The Decision Ahead
While Mendel-Idowu’s recent form is promising, it remains to be seen whether McKenna will take a gamble on the young talent or stick with his current squad.
With Ipswich needing to bounce back from their recent struggles, the manager’s choice could prove pivotal in their campaign.
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