Kieran McKenna has spoken about his decision to turn down Albion this summer – and stick with Ipswich.

The head coach who has taken the Tractor Boys from League One to the Premier League was understood to be a target for the Seagulls after they parted company with Roberto De Zerbi.

Instead, he stayed in Suffolk and goes up against Fabian Huerzeler tomorrow.

McKenna said: “I was really keen to be the one leading Ipswich Town into the Premier League.

“Anything other than that wouldn’t have felt right.

“This was an opportunity I didn’t want to miss, even though I know the realities of that is that, as a newly-promoted team, you’re going to face a lot of challenges.

“Brighton are an excellent football club as well. I think everyone in world football admires how they’ve built their football club, the way they’ve progressed every season, their recruitment and playing models, the investment that they’ve put into the stadium and the training ground.

“There are so many things that they have done well.

“For us at Ipswich Town, and for so many clubs, they are an example of a lot of good practice in a lot of areas. They’ve recruited well again this summer, both with their management and players, and facing them is going to be a good challenge.”

Ipswich have been handed a major fitness boost with Wes Burns, George Hirst and Omari Hutchinson all pushing to be involved.

Winger Burns, who this week extended his contract at Portman Road until 2026, suffered a hamstring injury against Liverpool on the opening weekend.

Forward Hirst has yet to feature this season after picking up a knee injury in a friendly against Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Attacker Hutchinson was sent home from England under-21 duty to assess a hamstring problem.