I didn't know who Kieran McKenna was - now I'm worried to death Manchester United want him back

Former Ipswich Town captain Mick Mills is concerned Manchester United will look to re-hire their ex-assistant manager Kieran McKenna after the tremendous job he has done at Portman Road.

McKenna completed a remarkable turnaround in Suffolk on Saturday lunchtime as a 2-0 victory over Huddersfield Town returned the club to the top flight of English football. When the 37-year-old joined in 2021, he inherited a struggling side in League One.

However, his brand of football has rocketed Ipswich not only out of League One into the Championship but into the Premier League where McKenna will pit his wits against United. After the historic promotion this weekend, Mills expressed his concern that the highly-rated young manager will return to Old Trafford one day.

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"He will be gaining the attention of an awful lot of people, and quite rightly so. We want him to stay here," Mills told BBC Sport.

"Mark Ashton [Ipswich chief executive] and his team did a tremendous job when they went out to find him - I certainly didn't know who he was. When I heard Kieran McKenna got the job at Portman Road, I did have to ask the question: 'Who's Kieran McKenna?'

"This is not just about Kieran, it's about the club as well - it's a big club with big opportunities, the ownership is good, the off-the-field team is good, so I dearly hope he stays here for a long time. But I think he can go right to the very top, I firmly believe that.

"It worries me to death that Manchester United haven't made a decision [about who will be in charge there next season]." Current Reds boss Erik ten Hag is on thin ice at Old Trafford.

After a disappointing second season, United have missed out on qualification to the Champions League and could end the year without any silverware if they lose the FA Cup final to Manchester City. MEN Sport understands Sir Jim Ratcliffe is unsure whether the Dutchman is the right man to take the club forward with the likes of Thomas Tuchel, Roberto De Zerbi and Gareth Southgate all linked with replacing him.