Former Manchester United captain suffers 'pretty significant injury'

When the team secured the signature of a veteran free agent who was a former Manchester United player on a one-year deal last July, they weren’t just buying a player; they were importing a decade’s worth of elite-level experience.

The 40-year-old arrival carried a pedigree few in the Championship could match, having amassed nearly 750 professional appearances across a storied career.

A former PFA Young Player of the Year at Aston Villa and a Scudetto winner with Inter Milan, he is perhaps best remembered for his nine-year stint at Manchester United.

During his time at Old Trafford, he evolved from a high-flying winger into a dependable club captain, picking up a Premier League title, an FA Cup, a League Cup, and a Europa League trophy along the way.

Ashley Young was brought to Portman Road by Kieran McKenna to provide the “leadership and hunger” necessary for a gruelling campaign.

However, that vital experience is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Ipswich Town are currently grappling with a significant fitness crisis following a 3-1 defeat at Sheffield United, with Young emerging as the most concerning casualty.

The versatile defender was a surprise omission from the matchday squad at Bramall Lane, and McKenna has since revealed that the veteran has been referred to a hip specialist after a training ground incident earlier this week, according to East Anglian Daily Times.

“Ash has been to see a hip specialist early this week. It looks like that could be a little bit more serious,” McKenna admitted. “We lost him during the week, so we had to make a couple of decisions today to do with freshness and protecting players.”

The loss of Young is a heavy blow for a squad already missing several key pillars.

The manager confirmed that the club has gone from a “fully fit squad” to one carrying four “pretty significant” injuries simultaneously.

The sudden lack of depth forced McKenna into five changes for the Sheffield United clash, including the rare decision to bench Leif Davis.

With a demanding schedule ahead, the manager has warned that the squad must “step up” to fill the void left by his senior leaders.