Liam Delap Surprised At How Happy He Has Been With Life At Ipswich Town

Liam Delap, the man Kieran McKenna says has become “different beast” this season, admits he still has a lot to learn if he is to become England’s next top-class striker.

The striker, who turned 22 last week, was signed by the newly-promoted Suffolk side from champions Manchester City for close to $25 million. Barely six months into a five-year contract, Delap has been the shining light of Ipswich Town’s season with nine Premier League goals.

With Ipswich mired in the relegation places, speculation has been mounting that Delap will move on, whether or not his team stay up this season. Extravagant transfer fees of up to nine figures are being quoted for the striker who is being tipped to eventually succeed current national team captain and record goalscorer Harry Kane as England’s next number nine.

For now, Delap looks like a man at ease in his surroundings, a guaranteed starter in the Premier League after two seasons of being sent out on loan from Manchester City. “I knew that coming here, it was going to be a good place and I’ve probably been pleasantly surprised at how happy I am here and how much I am enjoying it.”

Delap has nothing but praise for McKenna, describing him as “incredible”. “How he is with us as players and how he manages us and helps us learn every day, the detail that he goes into is top notch. You can see that everyone’s improving game by game and I think that’s credit to him.”

Amid reported interest in his services from European giants like Chelsea, Juventus and Manchester United, Delap is only concerned with the areas of the game he has to improve on. “The boss is so detailed on the out of possession side of things. Probably before I came here I had a concept of it but I wasn’t aware as he wanted me to be. It’s something he’s helped me with, and all the staff have helped me with throughout the season. I feel like I’m starting to improve that.”

Incredibly for such a robust center forward, only one of Liam Delap’s 21 senior goals have come from his head. He admits to me “I definitely think that’s something I need to work on, depending on how many balls you have put in the box. Obviously it’s something I need to improve on.”

His Ipswich Town team-mates have been almost unanimous in their regard of the softly-spoken Delap as the joker in the squad. Strike partner Omari Hutchinson said “he’s a real funny guy, he’s got a lot of character about him.” Delap blushed at the description saying “I don’t know, I think we have a good laugh here so yeah, I’d say we’ve got a really funny group.”

He was more forthcoming about the fact that he has enjoyed mixing it against some of the world’s best defenders, relishing the challenge and unafraid to confront opposition players physically. He admits that aggressive side to his game is something he has had to channel.

“Probably when I was younger, it went over the top, too much. It’s something that I’ve tried to help and learn from because I probably got in trouble. Now I’m starting to understand what’s right and what’s wrong and what’s too much.”

With Ipswich Town travelling to face Aston Villa this weekend, Delap will come face to face with Morgan Rogers, his former team-mate at Manchester City who has similarly flourished away from the club, also finding the net nine times this season. Both players scored in the reverse fixture at Portman Road in September.

Delap revealed that the pair had first met aged 15, eventually sharing a house. “He’s probably one of my closest friends. I love him to bits. I’m so happy for him this season, I think he’s always had that quality. It’s probably just someone letting him unleash it.”

Having moved to Suffolk, Delap has moved in with another former Manchester City team-mate, now sharing a house with goalkeeper Cieran Slicker. “We go back as well. We have an incredible relationship. A really good thing that I’ve come here and he’s here as well. He’s helped me so much to settle. It’s something that probably really helps and keeps me happy. It’s always nice having a friend. He’s helped me so much.”

Delap spent the entirety of last season on loan at Championship side Hull City, scoring eight times after less successful loans to Stoke City and Preston North End. He said “I knew when I was younger that the importance of playing regular men’s football is vitally important. I think everyone has a different journey but for me that taught me so much.”

“Probably the first two didn’t go as planned but I learned more in those two than I did when things were going well. It’s just a great experience for a young player. It builds your maturity and understanding of the game.”

The son of a professional, Delap was used to moving about as a child as his father frequently changed clubs. It is something he tells me has prepared him for the itinerant life of a player. “I think that probably helped me when I did get to the point where I was going out on my own.”

“I’ve lived in a lot of different places so you know, now when I’m older I’m moving on my own. I don’t feel unsettled or unwelcome because I think it is really important if you’re not settled or so used to somewhere it can make you unhappy. So yeah, I think I’m fine with that and always have been okay with moving about.”

Delap’s father Rory made over 500 senior appearances during a 20-year career in the English game. Liam previously played on loan for Stoke City, the club his father represented for seven seasons in the Premier League. Liam’s younger brother Finn also followed in his father’s footsteps by playing for Burton Albion.

Unlike them, Liam Delap is a born goalscorer. He says “I’ve always had in my mind that I love scoring goals and I love the feeling of scoring goals. To be anything other than a striker was not the one.”

Asked about his heroes growing up, the answer is as decisive as his finishing. “Always Cristiano when I was young. I idolised him when I was a little boy. Growing up, I was so focused on him. Probably now, in recent years I’m obviously looking at Harry Kane, I think what he’s done is incredible.”

Having just turned 22, Delap is still to match his dad’s total of 33 career goals (23 of those in the Premier League) but he knows that his father is always on hand to offer any guidance. “I speak to him most days. If I ever need any advice, I can ask him. He’s not too harsh now, when I was younger, he was a bit more harsh and he used to grill me a little bit! Now it’s a little bit better.”

“He obviously knows the ins and outs of football having spent his whole life in it. He just keeps me on the right track and makes sure that I continue to work hard and focus on what I’m doing.”

Rory Delap also played 11 times at international level for the Republic of Ireland, qualifying through his Irish parents. His son Liam has played, and scored, at every age group for England, except senior level. This means, he is still free to change allegiance and represent the Republic of Ireland, joining four of his club colleagues – Dara O’Shea, Chiedozie Ogbene, Sammie Szmodics and Jack Taylor.

I asked if Delap paternal family were in his ear and badgering him that it was not too late to represent the ‘Boys in Green’. He laughed “yeah, sometimes. I’ve had that conversation with them.”