Gary O'Neil has a fully fit Ipswich Town squad to choose from for Saturday's Premier League match against Fulham. The only absentee is winger Abdul Fatawu, who serves a suspension following his red card in the 1-0 defeat at Everton last month.
"Everyone is available," said O'Neil, the Ipswich manager, in his pre-match press conference. He confirmed that key midfielder Exequiel Palacios is ready after returning from international duty with Argentina, while Jack Taylor and Azor Matusiwa are also in contention after stepping up their fitness during the break. The team, sitting 11th in the Premier League with six points from five games, will look to end a run of two consecutive defeats when they host 19th-placed Fulham at Portman Road. O'Neil noted his side's goal difference stands at minus 1, having scored 8 goals and conceded 9 across their opening fixtures.
O'Neil praised the work done at the club's new training ground, calling it an "incredible facility" that has helped players maintain their condition. He also highlighted the careful management of players returning from long-distance travel, with Palacios's schedule specifically organised to ensure he is fresh. The manager revealed the team has worked on specific tactical plans for this fixture over the past three weeks, including a focus on set pieces, and believes his team can cause problems for the visitors.
Fulham challenge
The manager expects a tough test against a Fulham side he believes is in a false league position. "They were unlucky against Palace, deserved their point at Anfield and have not gained as many points as their performances suggest," O'Neil stated. He pointed out that Fulham's underlying statistics, such as their expected goals, indicate they should be higher than 19th, and he expects them to pose a significant threat, particularly from crosses into the box.
Defender Issa Diop, who joined in the summer, also spoke to the press ahead of the game, with O'Neil expressing his delight at the signing. The manager pointed to developing defensive partnerships, such as Diop with Jacob Greaves or Dara O'Shea, as a positive sign after a better defensive showing at Everton, where they limited the hosts to few clear chances despite the narrow defeat.
Kick-off is at 15:00 BST on Saturday as Ipswich aim to add three points to their tally and improve on a recent form line that reads LWLLW. The match is the next fixture in a schedule that sees the Tractor Boys looking to build momentum. O'Neil concluded by stating the team's objective is to finish the weekend in the top half of the table, a position they can achieve with a victory.
