Norwich City legend Chris Sutton has praised Kieran McKenna's 'phenomenal' work at Ipswich as he prepares for the East Anglia derby against his old side this weekend – but insists the Canaries will be out to 'derail' them '.
Ipswich have made an excellent start to the Championship season and are second in the table behind leaders Leicester, having only just been promoted from League One at the end of last season.
Norwich, meanwhile, have suffered from inconsistency as they attempted to return to the Premier League, ending up in 11th place, three points outside the play-offs, and Sutton – who made 127 appearances for the club – was left with nothing but good things. to say about their rivals.
Speaking to Mail Sport as part of Colman's 'Bring The Heat' campaign – which was launched this week with the aim of cheering on the Canaries over the busy festive period and ahead of the 'Old Farm' Derby this weekend – Sutton said that the top teams would soon turn a profit a 'bee line' for the ex-Man United U18s boss.
“There's still a long way to go, but that's a great job Kieran McKenna has done at Ipswich. They've been pretty phenomenal this season and to think they've been promoted and are in the position they're in.
Norwich legend Chris Sutton has praised the 'phenomenal' job Kieran McKenna is doing at Ipswich ahead of their clash against the Canaries
The Tractor Boys are flying in the table and dream of promotion to the Premier League
Sutton – speaking as part of Colman's 'Bring The Heat' campaign – said McKenna could soon land a top job in the Premier League
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'The fact that McKenna left Manchester United and wanted to go it alone, we all know how difficult management is and how short-term it is. What matters is that he is successful now and maintains that success.'
Sutton, a Mail Sport columnist and podcast host, said he could follow the same path as someone like Graham Potter, who rose from Ostersunds in Sweden before getting opportunities at Swansea, Brighton and Chelsea.
“(Potter) got that opportunity because of the type of football he played. Then he went to Chelsea, even though it didn't work out for him. That happens and he gets an opening at a big club. If he continues to do well at Ipswich, I don't see any reason why that wouldn't happen and why he couldn't do it at the top of the Premier League. It's about the ability to do the job.
“What he has done is made people sit up, look at the work he has done and realize who he is and who Ipswich is again. I'm pretty sure there will be suitors who will make a bee-line for him.”
Sutton admitted his old side, Norwich, would find themselves in uncharted waters as underdogs in this fixture, but claimed there would be an added incentive to get one over their high-flying rivals.
He believes Norwich will have an added incentive to 'derail' their rivals at the top of the table
'(Norwich) will go into this as underdogs – Ipswich have been in their shadow for a long time, but everyone expects Ipswich to win the game.
'If you look at this game and wonder who it's bigger for, Norwich fans wouldn't go into this game with a lot of confidence based on what they've seen this season, but Ipswich fans will go into this game thinking : 'we can do that' 'Don't lose this game'.
“The pressure is all on them and from a Norwich perspective they could start the rot of Ipswich. If they go there and derail Ipswich it could be a big moment in Norwich's season.
“Norwich have had a lot of games in this game where the supporters knew they were going to win. From the outside, it's good that Ipswich are on the rise, but we don't want them to go too far.'
Norwich have enjoyed good form under boss David Wagner, who has experience of leading a team to promotion since his days at Huddersfield between 2015 and 2019.
But Sutton believes Wagner will face skepticism from fans over the direction he is taking for the club after finishing mid-table last season and languishing in a similar position this season.
Sutton, who returned to Norwich this week as part of his work at Colmans, said play-offs should be the Canaries' aim
He said Norwich fans were not fully convinced by manager David Wagner and insists they could turn on him if more defeats were to come.
“They have been so inconsistent this season that you are not quite sure of the level of performance,” he added. 'I don't think the fans really know where the team is going under David Wagner, if the truth be told, and I don't know if the fans believe he is the right man to take the club forward.
'I think a large part of the Norwich fanbase don't believe in David Wagner and it only takes a few defeats for them to really turn around. From what I've seen of him, and I think he's a really decent guy, if a fan base turns against you and doesn't believe in you, where does that go?
'From his perspective it's a huge game for him because if his Norwich team beat Ipswich this weekend he can see that as a turning point. I think he might need some convincing.
“I think it's about getting to the playoffs and seeing where it takes them; that's the best Norwich can hope for. As far as I can see, they can't look too far ahead, apart from the next game and trying to make a dent in Ipswich.
Colman returned to Norwich City as a partner and this week launched a campaign called #BringTheHeat, aiming to cheer on the Canaries during the busy festive period. Colman's is giving the 2,000 Norwich City fans heading to Portman Road on Saturday a free Colman's Christmas scarf.