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Kieran McKenna will be the Premier League’s youngest manager next season but he has crammed plenty of real-life experience into his short career.

Even if Ipswich Town are written off following consecutive promotions, the 37-year-old ‘rookie’ isn’t daunted by the undoubted tests that lie ahead. 

‘I moved away at 16 to fulfil one dream and had to pivot on that at 22,’ reflects the Northern Irishman whose playing career was ended by injury when he was at Tottenham.

‘Since then, I’ve had 15 years of work, sacrifice and learning. It’s been an incredible journey and I am proud of what I’ve achieved. I was coaching in the Premier League and Champions League at 32. You want to test yourself against the best. It will be a great challenge to do that again.’

It was Jose Mourinho who first gave McKenna the chance to move from academy coaching into the first-team set-up at Manchester United. McKenna has his mentor’s self-confidence but the playing style is different. Ipswich are adventurous and swashbuckling, and it has brought remarkable success at Portman Road.