Exclusive: Don Goodman issues exciting Ipswich Town, EFL prediction on one Kieran McKenna condition | OneFootball

Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman spoke exclusively to Football League World about Ipswich Town's prospective EFL return in 2025/26

Ipswich Town are poised to suffer relegation straight back to the Championship alongside Leicester City and Southampton, but appear to be in stronger health as their EFL return beckons.

The Tractor Boys went up in second place behind last season's champions Leicester City to top off successive promotions from League One to the Premier League under Kieran McKenna, despite operating on a considerably weaker budget to many of their rivals and retaining the bulk of the side that had played in the third-tier.

Ipswich were always going to be up against it in the Premier League and are now set to fall short, though they have been more competitive than Leicester and Southampton. They have accumulated three more points than the Foxes, while Southampton, who gained promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking via the play-offs, saw their relegation confirmed on Sunday afternoon in what has been a historically abysmal top-flight campaign.

But it would take something spectacular for Portman Road to be hosting Premier League football once again come August. After claiming a shock 2-1 midweek victory at Bournemouth, Ipswich's faint survival hopes were dealt a seismic blow on Saturday afternoon against 17th-placed Wolves, with two late goals from the Old Gold consigning them to a 2-1 defeat at home.

Ipswich need to catch Wolves, who are now 12 points clear of the relegation zone with just seven games to spare, and Town's relegation will no doubt be mathematically confirmed in the coming weeks.

They may already have one eye on the Championship, though, and have one factor which potentially sets them apart from their counterparts in Leicester and Southampton - according to Don Goodman.

Don Goodman claims Ipswich Town's Championship experience could aid automatic promotion in 25/26

In contrast to the other two freshly-promoted sides last summer, Ipswich conducted much of their business in the second-tier market. This saw McKenna complete moves for the likes of Jack Clarke, Conor Townsend, Dara O'Shea, Arijanet Muric, Chiedozie Ogbene and Jacob Greaves.

Meanwhile, Liam Delap was signed from Manchester City following a productive loan stint with Hull and has proved a shining light in Ipswich's promotion campaign, Omari Hutchinson joined permanently after impressing on loan from Chelsea and the Championship's top scorer of the previous term in Sammie Szmodics also arrived from Blackburn Rovers.

Then, in January, Ipswich only strengthened their Championship-proven core by acquiring West Bromwich Albion shot-stopper Alex Palmer and Jaden Philogene, who had endured a difficult spell with Aston Villa but lit up the Championship with Hull just last season.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Goodman believes Ipswich will retain the bulk of their squad and, given its litany of second-tier nous, could be primed to deliver automatic promotion straight back to the Premier League.

"I think most of Ipswich's signings have come from the Championship," the Sky Sports pundit told FLW.

"The likes of Alex Palmer and Jack Clarke, I know Liam Delap was a Manchester City player but his career has ultimately been played out in the Championship. I think they signed seven players from the Championship and a further three that got relegated last season with Burnley and Luton.

"They've got lots and lots of Championship experience. I do think they will be able to keep the bulk of their squad together, and I do think they will absolutely have an automatic promotion push, providing that Kieran McKenna is still in charge of the group."

Ipswich Town may need Kieran McKenna to realise promotion ambitions

It will be interesting to see exactly what happens with McKenna this summer. Ipswich were fearful of losing him this time last year amid serious links to the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United, but the ex-Red Devils coach ultimately decided to stay put and lead Town into the top-flight.

There is a school of thought that his stock has just fallen somewhat as Ipswich close in on a swift return to the Championship, but he's still a more-than-capable head coach who may well have admirers once his side's fate is sealed.

McKenna's achievements at Ipswich cannot be understated. Players who turned out in League One such as Conor Chaplin, Leif Davis, Sam Morsy and Nathan Broadhead have all made it all the way to the Premier League, with McKenna showcasing a remarakble ability to maximise potential and get the best out of almost every individual under his watch.

Ipswich's squad are also aligned and well-familiarised with McKenna's methods. The same is not quite applicable at Leicester and Southampton, both of whom have had two or more permanent bosses in charge in the last twelve months.

That's a potentially-decisive factor in next season's promotion reckoning, and this Ipswich squad certainly appears most primed to compete at the very top-end of the second-tier in 25/26.

But much could well be dictated by whether McKenna stays or leaves, and his presence in the dugout could be exactly what takes Ipswich straight back up.