Ipswich Town are usually a club you expect to see competing for the play-offs in the Sky Bet Championship, particularly under a manager like Mick McCarthy, who has an excellent reputation.

However, Ipswich struggled during the 2016/17 campaign, limping to a disappointing 16^th-placed finish and just four-points outside the relegation zone.

McCarthy will surely be looking to strengthen his squad over the summer, particularly after announcing the departures of Christophe Berra, Paul Digby, Jonathan Douglas, Giles Coke, Leon Best, Jacob Marsden and Joe Robinson.

The departure of Berra is a significant blow to McCarthy, after the 32-year old was a regular in the heart of Ipswich’s defence during the 2016/17 campaign, making 46 appearances across all competitions.

McCarthy must look to replace Berra’s experience this summer, and one player he could look to is Alex Bruce, who has recently been released from Hull City ahead of their Championship return.

Bruce has a wealth of Championship experience, and previously played for Ipswich between 2006 and 2010, where he made over 100 appearances at Portman Road.

The 32-year old has endured a frustrating 2016/17 campaign, making just two appearances, which came whilst on-loan in the Championship with Wigan Athletic.

However, during the 2015/16 campaign, Bruce made 17 appearances for Hull, helping the Tigers gain promotion to the Premier League.

The upcoming summer will be important for McCarthy and Ipswich, and with an experienced defender on his way out of Portman Road in Berra, a move for Bruce, who is a free agent, could be a wise move from the Tractor Boys.