'We're formidable in our own stadium'

[PA Media]

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna expects to face one of their toughest challenges of the season on Sunday despite Middlesbrough's indifferent form of late.

Boro have not won any of their past six Championship games but McKenna does not believe the downturn reflects the quality of Kim Hellberg's side.

"We know we're facing a really strong opponent on Sunday, they've been stylistically one of the dominant teams in the league over the last few months - but they've also dropped a lot of points," he said.

"What their form is coming into a game often doesn't matter when you get a top team against another top team.

"They've been a good team for a few years and have added to it well in the last couple of transfer windows - and they've had good managers who have come in and added their own piece to it.

"They're one of the teams, and there haven't been too many, who will come and try and play their game.

"We will give them our full respect, we expect a really big challenge but we believe in ourselves and in our stadium know we're a formidable team to play against as well."

Second-placed Ipswich will have full-back Leif Davis back in the squad after missing Tuesday's 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth.

"He probably hasn't had as many minutes over the last few weeks as he'd want but he should be nice and fresh. We're going to need a big output from Leif," McKenna added.

Wales international Wes Burns is again likely to be unavailable because of a calf injury, while Azor Matusiwa will be assessed as he continues to recover from a dead leg, having gone off in the 58th minute against Portsmouth.

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