Dan Neil says his move to Ipswich Town has helped him rediscover the purpose and rhythm he felt slipping away during a frustrating first half of the season at Sunderland.
The midfielder arrived at Portman Road in January seeking regular football and a fresh challenge, which has now seen him at the heart of a promotion push.
As he prepares for Leicester City’s visit, Neil has spoken openly about his decision to leave his boyhood club, why Ipswich was the right fit, and the dangers posed by a Foxes side fighting at the opposite end of the table.
Neil insists he isn’t thinking about his long‑term future, despite being out of contract at Sunderland this summer.
After struggling for Premier League minutes, he admitted he “almost lost [his] purpose a little bit” without regular football and needed a move where he could play consistently.
Joining Ipswich on loan was about reconnecting with the game and feeling involved again on matchdays.
Neil says the structure of the deal suited both him and Sunderland, with promotion the clear shared objective.
“There’s one goal in mind, and that’s to get promoted, then we’ll see what happens after that,” he said.
Leaving his boyhood club was difficult, but he feels at peace with the decision, describing last season’s promotion as “a nice way for it to end.”
The 24‑year‑old had several offers in January but felt Ipswich offered the strongest platform to make an impact.
He described the club as “massively on the up” and believed the squad had one of the best chances of pushing for promotion.
Neil also felt Kieran McKenna’s system suited his strengths, saying he could “see myself in that role” when watching Town last season.
Looking ahead to Leicester City’s visit, Neil warned against underestimating a side fighting at the bottom end of the table.
He highlighted their attacking quality and said Ipswich will need to be “100% at it” to avoid being caught by a team capable of turning form quickly.
“Every single game is a tough game,” he added, calling Leicester’s front four “fantastic individuals.”
