Kieran McKenna has transformed the fortunes of Ipswich since he took over at the club and has managed to lead them up towards the play-off spots again.

Despite having never held the top job at a club before going to Portman Road, he has been thrown straight into the breach and has handled it well. After leadership under Paul Cook saw them flounder and fall down the table, the former Man United man has taken them back to where they want to be.

Now, the boss has today revealed to Suffolk News one of his techniques in getting the best out of his team. That technique involves showing the Tractor Boys some of the best players in England and allowing his players, in similar positions, to be able to try and emulate them and take skills away from watching their games.

According to McKenna, it is a form of coaching that he has used often - and it clearly seems to be having the desired effect at Ipswich.

Speaking to Suffolk News about it, he said: "I think that is a really useful strategy in coaching.

"To be honest, we do that with quite a lot of the players here, I have done that with everywhere I have been really. I think in general the boys like to watch football.

"They are like the supporters - they have role models, they have people they look up to, they have people they aspire to and people who they see a little bit of themselves in.

"That's part of our work pretty regularly, looking at other teams, looking at top teams, looking at top players, trying to draw things from our players that are similar and that 'look, you can do these things to and this is a player who is working at really high level."

The Tractor Boys certainly have the talent in their squad to be able to try and replicate some of the best skills and abilities from some of the better players in England. Whilst not on the same level as those at the likes of Man City and Liverpool, anything they can take from their game could certainly aid them if they can implement it.

Now, they have a chance to kick on under McKenna and can dream of a potential top six spot and promotion back into the Championship.

The Verdict

Kieran McKenna has been a revelation since taking the Ipswich job and the fans of the club will be hoping the good times last under the coach.

He's got the side playing a lot better football and they're picking up the results alongside it too. If they can keep this up and continue to win games too, then it could really see them in with a chance of a promotion up to the second tier come the end of the season.

If he achieved that with the side, it would be a great achievement for everyone involved. Yes, the club spent a lot of money in the summer, but they faltered under Paul Cook and to come in and steer them back in the right direction is not easy.

You'd fancy them as one of the better teams in the division right now since the former Man United man took over - and if they keep it up, anything is possible.