Kieran McKenna responds after an Ipswich Town man departs Portman Road

Ipswich Town had a successful January transfer window, bolstering their squad for promotion.

The Tractor Boys exceeded all expectations in the second half of the season, finishing second in the Championship, ten points behind league leaders Leicester City.

The acquisitions of Ali Al-Hamadi, Jeremy Sarmiento, Lewis Travis, and the return of Kieffer Moore have provided lots of new alternatives for head coach Kieran McKenna, but it has left the general squad overcrowded in some areas, and one veteran player has left as a result.

Lee Evans, a midfielder at Portman Road for two and a half years, has left the club by mutual consent.

Evans joined Town from Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2021 as part of Paul Cook’s massive squad reconstruction, and while the Scouse manager was unable to get the most out of a new-look squad, Evans was a regular starter for the first two years of his Town career.

Due to knee issues, the midfielder only made 50 League One appearances in the previous two seasons. However, he started the current season on the bench for Ipswich due to the strong partnership of Sam Morsy and Massimo Luongo, as well as the addition of Jack Taylor from Peterborough United.

Evans, on the other hand, has been out since October due to a knee injury, having undergone surgery in the early stages of the month, and he has now been granted permission to go in order to seek minutes elsewhere.

And it looks that Evans’ contract was terminated before the transfer deadline, allowing him to move on to another club in the next month or so while he continues his treatment and hopes to return to the pitch before the end of the 2023-24 season.

Kieran McKenna remarks on Lee Evans’ departure from Ipswich Town.

Kieran McKenna, speaking on the decision to part ways with Evans, stated on Ipswich’s official website: “Lee has made significant contributions during my time at the Club and is highly respected by the staff and teammates.”

“He’s a fantastic player and a fantastic professional, and after being very unfortunate and suffering from numerous injuries, we hope that those concerns are rectified following surgery and that he can return to playing games.

“Lee has agreed to do what will hopefully be his final month of rehab work here until he is back in full training, at which point he will be able to sign somewhere as a free agent.”

“Hopefully he will get quite a few games before the end of the season, with whoever takes him getting a very good football player, hopefully now free of injury, and a fantastic character who is so well-respected here.”

League One club might land a coup with Evans.

The loan arrival of Lewis Travis from Blackburn in January provided extra competition in the engine room for the remainder of the season, and with a contract set to expire at the end of the season, Evans was permitted to go early in order to find a new club.

As a result, it is the correct thing to do for Evans’ benefit, allowing the 29-year-old to become fit and firing again, with League One clubs undoubtedly eyeing a move for the Welshman.

If promotion-chasing third-tier clubs need an extra midfielder, they might do worse than a fit and firing Evans, who has plenty of experience playing in the higher division.

There will undoubtedly be concerns about Evans’ knee problems, but he will be aiming to put them behind him and focus on what he does best: dominating midfielders and attempting long-range shots.