The day could not have gone much better for Ipswich Town’s Massimo Luongo.
After receiving word of his first international call-up for Australia in four years, the 31-year-old played a vital role as Kieran McKenna’s side swept away Hull City 3-0 in the Championship — and was then joined in the dressing room at full time by front of shirt sponsor and Town supporter Ed Sheeran.
Luongo is a fan of the four-time Grammy award winner and the reverse is likely to be true, such has been the impact of the midfielder’s performances at Portman Road since his arrival on a free transfer in January.
Eleven games into the Championship season, Ipswich are flying high and lie second in the table heading into the international break. Only Leicester City, who were two divisions higher than Ipswich last season, are above them, with Luongo and Sam Morsy being lauded among the division’s best central midfield partnerships.
“It was probably really good timing to come into the team and then we went on an incredible run from January in League One,” Luongo says. “No one knew how the Championship was going to go but obviously it has started really well.
“There’s a bit of nostalgia because it was my first loan (here, from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012) and people still remember me. Luckily the group is really chilled and the gaffer and (chief executive) Mark Ashton base recruitment on ability but also the right people coming in.”
Luongo’s addition in January was a masterstroke from Ipswich’s recruitment team, with the bolstered midfield ranks ensuring he was there as cover when Lee Evans was ruled out with a knee injury as part of a 19-game unbeaten run from mid-January to the end of the season. Luongo made 15 appearances, scoring twice and has added one goal in 11 games this season. The Morsy-Luongo partnership has been rock solid since as Ipswich have continued their good form, with their only league defeat of 2023-24 coming in a seven-goal thriller at home to Leeds United.
