Hutchinson has impressed on loan at Ipswich, and the dream of many at Portman Road will be to get the winger back for another season
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has made his feelings clear to owner Mark Ashton about what he wants for his birthday next week – Omari Hutchinson.
The Tractor Boys’ loan of Hutchinson from Chelsea proved to be a stroke of genius after he helped to fire Ipswich to promotion to the Premier League, and McKenna has let it be known that he would like him back in a Town shirt next season as a present for his upcoming 38th birthday.
During the club’s End of Season Dinner on May 6, McKenna was asked, “what would you like Mark Ashton to buy you for your birthday?” to which the Town boss playfully responded “Omari!” as he was greeted with cheers from the crowd.
Hutchinson did not make an instant impact upon his arrival in East Anglia, struggling to dislodge the likes of Conor Chaplin, Wes Burns and Nathan Broadhead from the starting 11 as he had to remain patient.
The Jamaican international eventually became a key player for McKenna, and played the full 90 minutes in all of the last nine games of the season as the Tractor Boys were promoted to the top-flight for the first time since 2002 – even being named as the club’s Young Player of the Year for his exploits.
The Northern Irishman’s comments at the dinner may have been tongue-in-cheek, but he would no doubt love him to return to Portman Road next season, whether that be on a permanent or loan deal.
Omari Hutchinson was a vital part of Ipswich Town’s promotion push
The Chelsea loanee did not start his first league game for the club until seven games into the 2023-24 Championship campaign as he netted the winner away at Southampton for his first goal in professional football.
He started six of the club’s next 22 Championship matches, scoring one goal and providing two assists as he was left to largely make an impact from the bench.
Hutchinson soon began to find form, after a late equaliser away at West Brom kick-started a run of two goals and two assists in his next four games, including another injury-time goal to beat lowly Rotherham United.
His crowing moment in a Town shirt came away at Hull City on April 27, as he scored two brilliant long-range goals to secure a 3-3 draw that helped McKenna’s side edge closer to promotion.
