Target Practice #9

For far too long, Town have suffered with a terminal disease called ‘terrible wingers’. Whilst that might sound harsh, and in fairness Gwion Edwards had a good start to last season before reverting to form, contributions from the wide areas has been awful over the past few seasons. Luke Garbutt, the final glaring example of how little Marcus Evans cared about the playing squad, was the last decent contributor from the wings.

This summer, there are many recruitment priorities. We have already talked about strikers and attacking midfielders, as well as looking at full-backs. Whilst centre-halves and right-wingers are still to come (stay tuned for that!), this week we are going to take a look at three left-wingers that could shine in Cook’s system and drive Town’s offensive play.

Funnily enough, this list was significantly more difficult than I thought to cultivate. Many talented wide players are either too expensive or simply lack the standard required. Whilst Charlie Kirk and Michael Jacobs, two more names linked with Town, could have easily featured, I wanted to take a look at some alternate options that would create chances for the lone striker, whilst remaining within Town’s clear recruitment strategy.

Barrie McKay

I felt slightly hesitant about including McKay, but in truth he still possesses many of the qualities required. It’s no secret that his career has hit something of a sticking point after a promising few years at Rangers. After joining Forest and then moving on to Swansea, McKay has struggled to adapt to the English game, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t worth looking at.

Last season, turning out for Fleetwood in League One, McKay played 27 times, scoring twice and providing four assists. Whilst the Scot was only able to accrue an average rating of 6.72, (all stats according to WhoScored), the 26-year-old was able to showcase flashes of the brilliance that earnt him high praise during his time at Rangers.

A pacey player with excellent dribbling skills, McKay was recently released from Swansea and is looking for a permanent home. McKay’s name has been linked to Portman Road before, with the Scottish winger being touted for a move to Suffolk before his eventual arrival at Nottingham Forest. Is now the right time for the 26-year-old to make a splash for Paul Cook’s side?

Still at a good age, and with Championship experience behind him, McKay could be an ideal utility signing that would provide a flash of brilliance from the bench. That doesn’t serve to discount his qualities as a starter; I’m certain that if the conditions were right and he put his head down, the former Rangers star could become a fan’s favourite, using his pace and ball skills to excite and delight the Portman Road faithful.

Daryl Horgan

Another name that may sound familiar, Horgan was linked with Town in 2016 before he moved to Preston from Dundalk. A star in the League of Ireland, Horgan was an exciting export when he arrived at Deepdale in 2017. Unfortunately for Horgan, things never truly worked out at Preston, with the tricky winger moving north and joining Hibs.

After impressing over two seasons in Scotland, Horgan moved to Wycombe where he plied his trade in the Championship last season. Playing 40 times for the newly-promoted outfit, Horgan managed two assists with no goals, however he did crop up with a strike in the League Cup, whilst also netting for the Republic of Ireland in a friendly against Andorra. His average rating across the season (6.37) may not fill Town fans with a great deal of excitement, but we all know football goes far deeper than the statistics that define it.

Playing for a Wycombe team that spent most of the time lifting the ball into the sky, Horgan was always going to struggle displaying his best attributes. A fast, dynamic winger with the ability to skilfully take on an opponent, Horgan is still searching for a destination where he can rekindle the form he showed during his time in Ireland.

With Town searching for players with experience in the higher echelons of English football, Horgan could be the exact kind of versatile winger that would tick all of the boxes. The sales pitch wouldn’t be difficult, but it remains to be seen if Town have their sights set on better targets.

Junior Hoilett

If I was in charge, I would have thrown everything at Hoilett to make it happen… maybe there’s a good reason I don’t run the club.

In truth, all of Cardiff’s released list would settle nicely at Portman Road, with Sol Bamba and Joe Bennett two players that will have pricked the ears of Paul Cook and co. However, the most exciting name on that list is Junior Hoilett, a man I believe would change the game.

Despite his age (31) and his better years arguably behind him, the former Cardiff, QPR, and Blackburn winger would still be more than good enough for a League One side. Quick, dynamic and possessing experience at the top of the English game, Hoilett is the exact calibre of player that Town should be looking to sign. Whilst I understand this wouldn’t be a long-term solution, a mix of young and more experienced players provides the foundation for any successful team.

Playing 21 times across all competitions for Cardiff last term, Hoilett scored two goals and provided two assists, gaining an average rating of 6.58. Considering the Canadian winger is now in his 30’s, his pace, dynamism and excellent dribbling ability is still clear for all to see, and I believe those skills would be perfectly placed at Portman Road.

It may sound like I’m Hoilett’s agent pushing for a move (which I can neither confirm or deny), but Town have been crying out for a player of his calibre for years. Now a free agent and looking for a comfy place to spend his final years as a professional, I’m certain that the sunny shores of Suffolk could prove enticing. Talk about a focal point player that could state your intentions? Look no further than Junior Hoilett.

And those are my picks! Feel free to let me know your thoughts and get in touch if you have any recommendations for players that you would like to see become part of Town’s new look side for next season! Thank you for taking the time to read this piece; I’ll see you again soon!