Ipswich Town face a difficult Premier League away fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday 21 November. The match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium kicks off at 3pm local time.
Their recent form shows one win, two draws and two losses from the last five league outings. The most recent was a 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth last weekend, where a Leif Davis own goal proved costly after Jack Clarke's penalty had levelled the scores. That result left the team with a goal difference of minus five, having scored 15 and conceded 20. They currently sit 16 points behind the league leaders Arsenal.
Tottenham, sitting 11th, present a formidable challenge. They have won three of their last four league games, including victories over Chelsea and Crystal Palace. Their only recent defeat was a narrow 1-0 loss to Leeds United.
McKenna will need to address a defence that has conceded 20 goals this season, the fourth-highest total in the division. The manager is expected to keep faith with a core of experienced players. Walton is likely to continue in goal behind a back four that could again feature Abdoul Ouattara, Diop, Dara O'Shea and Leif Davis.
The midfield battle will be key, with Palacios and Florentino Luís tasked with disrupting Tottenham's rhythm. Further forward, Julio Enciso and Maeda will provide support for striker Emersonn. Enciso was on the scoresheet in the 2-2 draw at Hull City at the end of last month.
Ipswich have shown they can score, netting 15 times so far, but their defensive record is a concern. They have conceded an average of 2.0 goals per game. The team's next fixture after this trip is a home match against Nottingham Forest. McKenna will also be without key midfielder Sam Morsy and defender Cameron Burgess for this game due to injury, as confirmed by the latest injury list.
Ipswich fought back for a 2-2 draw at Hull City last month, with Florentino and Enciso on target. Consistency has been the issue, with the team unable to build on their 2-1 win over Fulham in early October. Their run of one win, two draws and two losses in the last five includes that victory over Fulham, the draw with Nottingham Forest, and defeats to Manchester City and Bournemouth.
The trip to north London begins a demanding period in the fixture list. A positive result would provide a significant boost ahead of the busy winter schedule.
