Leif Davis: Ipswich Town defender is most archetypal ‘modern full-back’ there could possibly be

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There were some eyebrows raised when Leif Davis dropped two levels to join Ipswich Town from then-Premier League outfit Leeds United back in July 2022.

The full-back, just 23, swapped Elland Road for Portman Road for an undisclosed fee – rumoured to be seven-figures – and gave a cliched response of wanting to “move up the leagues”, “help the team” and “play as much as I can”.

But if his first interview was one to pass by without setting the world alight, his performances on the pitch have very quickly turned him into a fan-favourite. At the same time, he has cemented himself as a crucial cog in the Ipswich Town machine.

That machine, under the operation of Kieran McKenna, is one that is throwing out all sorts of steam and noises. It’s not due to being over-worked, but due to the rapid way in which they are storming through the work that needs to be done.

Town, back in the Championship after four seasons in League One, have taken the second tier by storm and Davis has been a key part of that. Despite being a full-back by trade, Davis has the joint-highest number of assists (eight) and has been provider of 57 attacking chances for Town – again the joint-most in the Championship.

Getting assists is not a strange feeling for the Geordie Davis.

As a youngster he was used as a left-sided central defender before being used as a left winger by youth club Wallsend Boys Club in his hometown of Newcastle. At one point he was relegated back into defence but fondly remembers defying coaches by continuing to run the length of the pitch.

Davis is an archetypal example of the ‘modern full-back’. Unlike years gone-by where those on the left or right side of defence had traditional responsibilities almost entirely focused on defending, the modern full-back is required to work as an alternative attacking outlet to support those ahead of them.

It’s the modern full-back’s job to provide crosses, make overlapping runs past wide teammates, and much more in the final third of the pitch. It is here in this area that Davis is certainly making an impression. You only have to take a brief look at his heatmap for the season so far to see how much of an advanced role he plays for Town.

And it was one of these darting runs behind, having been sent through by centre-half Cameron Burgess, that allowed Davis to find his eighth assist of the season.

His pinpoint cross met Nathan Broadhead’s towering leap to be headed beyond Bartosz Bialkowski for Town’s third in a 3-1 win over Millwall.

“I like to get forward and help the team to get those goals,” he recently told Sky Sports. “I didn’t think the quality I had in the final third was my best and strongest point, now it is. The way he [McKenna] has worked with me in training to be more comfortable with the ball at my feet in the final third, and to find passes instead of just getting it into the box and hoping for the best.

“The way I play in the team is more advanced to a normal left-back. I don’t really have anyone in front of me, and I’ve got to do a lot on that side myself. But that’s my job. It’s why I was brought in and he trusts me to play that role – at least I hope he does!”

Having featured in all but one of Town’s Championship matches this term it’s fair to say that Davis is trusted by McKenna. Only Sunderland’s Jack Clarke (98) and Crysencio Summerville of Leeds United (92) have registered more ‘shot creating actions’ than Davis’ 91 and only three players have recorded more ‘goal creating actions’.

According to FBref, Davis has only attempted 20 ‘take-ons’ and of those only five have been classed successful. But those low figures only focus on dribbling take-ons, they don’t include phases of play such as against Preston North End when Davis combined intricately with a number of players to make space for a darting run down the left flank – eventually setting up Kayden Jackson to score their fourth in a 4-2 win.

Both Davis (117) and Wes Burns (133) do find themselves in the top 12 for progressive passes received, however – an indication of the advanced wide role the duo play. This is reaffirmed when you realise Davis has made 462 touches in the attacking third, compared to 272 in his defensive third.

Against West Brom, Davis was limited to just 19 touches in the attacking third as the Baggies looked to – and succeeded in – controlling Town’s creative spark. Against Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday Davis was also limited to just nine and eight final third touches – although he was forced off with an injury midway through the match-up with the latter. His average per game, though, is 27 final third touches.

Leif Davis has been a crucial part of Ipswich Town’s adaptation to Championship life and he is a clear example of what the ‘modern full-back’ looks like in practice.